Dale eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory in front of Dale's biggest crowd of the season, and the many more watching at home due the live TV coverage.

Dale eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory in front of Dale's biggest crowd of the season, and the many more watching at home due the live TV coverage courtesy of SKY tv. However, the game was marred by a sizeable minority from Hull who came intent on causing trouble.

Well the lads did not disappoint on their big day. Dale coasted to an easy three nil victory in front of the biggest crowd of the season, and the millions watching at home (well maybe thousands) as the game was broadcast live on SKY TV. As mentioned, it was Dale's biggest crowd in a good few years (since Northampton in the Cup?), which was boosted by a travelling contingent of just over 1500.

New boy Jason Lydiate who was signed on loan from Scarboro just in time for the match came into the midfield, with Paul Carden dropping to the right wing back position. Dean Stokes did not make a much anticipated return with Andy Barlow having an excellent game at left wing back.

Dale started brightly and they created several chances in a very short space of time, though none really tested the keeper. Dale forced a succession of corners and Peakey's delivery always looked dangerous with the aerial threat of Morris and Monington. Holt came closest to scoring when the ball was knocked to him just a couple of yards out. He tried a deft little flick, but found his shot turned round the post by the Hull keeper Oakes.

I didn't think that Hull were a bad side, and they looked fairly organised at the back despite missing the suspended player/manager Warren Joyce, and it is hard to see them relegated on this display. But Dale were by far the dominant side, and looked determined to put on a show worthy of their talents. Andy Barlow whipped in some fantastic crosses. Peakey who many felt should have been man of the match, was able to play to his full potential.

Dale took the lead five minutes before half time, following a well taken corner. The ball was crossed to the edge of the box, and was then headed towards the right hand post where Michael Holt was hand to head the ball past the diving Oakes.

Dale almost made it seconds later, when we almost scored from an identical move, though this time Morris was lurking at the far post, but failed to make the connection. A minute later we almost scored again when Holt made a clever run down the right and cut in. Holty has been accused of being too greedy in some quarters, but he opted to lay the ball across the six yard box past Oakes into the trail of Morris who again could not make contact. The ball ended up with Andy Barlow who beat one man but found a couple of defenders in his path as he tried to knock the ball home. Both chances saw Morris inches away, when the slightest touch would result in a goal. There was still time for Hull to have their first proper effort on goal, but Edwards was left with a simple tap over the cross bar.

Halftime came and went, and Hull came out looking to get back into the match. However it was Dale who had the first chance of the half. Michael Holt had a header brilliantly saved by the Hull keeper Oakes, cousin of the Villa keeper. Oakes dive brilliantly to his right and the ball spun over the cross bar, when a goal looked inevitable.
Hull stepped up the pressure a little bit, but never looked threatening. Edwards had one save to make and that went straight down his throat from the edge of the box. It was nothing more than just a comfortable save by the Prince of Wales.

The second goal came following a free kick awarded just outside the Hull box close to their supporters, when Holty was kicked a couple of times from behind by the Hull defender. Despite the protests of the Hull fans, it was a good decision (as replays showed). Peakey whipped in a wonderful ball and Holt headed home despite close attention from a couple of defenders. This was an excellent header. he is not the tallest of players but he has certainly had his fair share of headers since his arrival from Preston N.E. Mind you, there is a certain Number One who has proved that height isn't everything.

The second goal really killed Hull off. They never really looked like scoring before, so they were never going to once their heads had dropped. They had a couple more efforts, one which was superbly saved by Edwards. I was quite pleased at that. This was Edwards big moment to be recognised for International recognition. It was just his luck that he had nothing to do all evening. The save he did make was from close range, rebounding a Williams effort out.

In injury time, Dale made it three with a Morris goal. Robbie Painter beat through the offside trap, then racing towards the goal. He unselfishly crossed the ball into the middle where Morris stumbled to fire home from close range. The Hull defenders appealed for offside, handball, floodlight failure and LBW, but it was a fair goal. I must admit from where I was stood in the Sandy, it looked a definite handball by Morris, but the television replays showed that it came off his right foot, though he may not have been aware that it had.

Hull had one more effort, when Edwards was fouled on a cross, and Andy Farrell offered them some charity when the ball came off him and went goalward. Fortunately, there was a Dale defender on the line to clear. This was Hull's best chance of the game.

This was a very good performance by Dale against a quickly improving side who had previously been unbeaten for five games. All players played well with Monington, Peake, Barlow and man of the Match Holt standing out. Bayliss and Farrell defended well. Farrell is probably playing better for the club now than he has done before. He has made some crucial tackles when they have been needed. I know he isn't everybody's cup of tea, and when he plays in midfield he struggles, but playing at the back recently because of injuries he has done well. Carden was a little quiet at right wing back, and I hope he doesn't remain there, as he has been brilliant in midfield recently. Barrow obviously feels that we do not attack well enough down the right hand side, so he has tried a couple of midfielders in that slot (Jones and Carden). Lydiate did well in his first game and got some stitches for his trouble. It seems strange that Scarboro will allow players to leave on loan in their perilous position. Their loss I suppose. Morris is continuing to prove a few people wrong (myself included). A big bloke like that will always look clumsy, and will make some errors, but he has now scored four goals in his last six matches. Michael Holt is proving to be on of Barrow's best signings. Seven goals in a handful of matches. I think very soon, we will start to receive big money offers for this lad. Unfortunately, PNE will be entitled to a large chunk of any transfer, so I guess we'll have to hold onto then won't we.

The one down side of the night was the behaviour of a sizeable minority of the Hull supporters. It was not helped by ineffective stewarding and poor policing. I agree that heavy stewarding and policing can create a hostile atmosphere and sometimes doesn't help, but we had more stewards watching the 200 of us at Stoke, than there was with the 1500-2000 Hull fans. Many Hull fans entered other sections of the ground, and how a major incident didn't happen is a credit to the Dale fans for not reacting. There was a small pitch invasion by some Hull fans who were housed in the Main Stand, who on being moved attacked the Dale dugout as well (albeit from behind). They raced over to an incident in the WMG stand where a few Hull fans were getting boisterous. The stewards seemed completely ill prepared. It may be harsh to blame the stewards themselves as it was lack of numbers of them rather than their individual inefficiency which was not the case. A couple of stewards were actually attacked, and there seemed little done about it. It sums up the Hull idiots that they attacked the end containing the family stand. You cannot get lower than that. Pure scum. The only advantage is that there were plenty of cameras there so arrests should be relatively easy. To make matters worse, it was announced over the tannoy that the Hull fans were to remain behind for fifteen minutes after the game, but they left at the same time as we did.

This was the only minor point on an otherwise splendid evening. Can we be on Sky every week?
Dale: Edwards, Carden, Barlow, Lydiate, Monington, Bayliss, Farrell, Painter, Morris, Peake, Holt

Photo: Action Images

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