For the umpteenth time this season, Dale won a match, having made things extremely difficult, after gifting the visitors a two goal lead. The winner came from a Graham Lancashire header in the second period of extra time to give Dale a thoroughly deserved win.

The game kicked off with barely a thousand people in the ground. Indeed, it looked like no one had bothered making the journey from Macclesfield as the Wilbutts terrace stood bare. It was only when you noticed a blue flag in the corner of the main stand, that you realised that all 84 Macclesfield fans were seated in there. It seems that the prestigious Auto Windscreen Shield was not a crowd puller for either side.

There were a couple of changes from Saturday's side. Boss Steve Parkin had decided to rest both Gary Jones and Graham Lancashire, with Graeme Atkinson and Clive Platt coming in as replacements. This meant Dale went into the match with wingers on both sides with Dave Flitcroft reverting to his more natural central role.

The game started like a house on fire, and Dale looked set to get an early goal, as they attacked the Sandy Lane end of the ground. Dale seemed a million times better than how they did when they hosted the Macc Lads back in October, and the Silkmen were really on the back foot. At this time it looked like Dale would be up for an easy stroll into the next round of the cup (well, er, shield).

Suddenly, the unthinkable happened, and with Macclesfield enjoying their first real venture into the Dale half, they scored a goal!!!! That wasn't supposed to happen. Not to worry, plenty of time still to go. Minutes later, they went and did it again. Two goals in just two attacks. Not fair. At this point, the validity of the competition was being discussed, and most Dale fans were in agreement that this was just a Mickey Mouse competition.

It was a strange situation that Dale were two goals down, but had been playing well. They looked capable of scoring in most attacks, but all of a sudden they found themselves trailing. Dale stepped up a gear in an attempt to get back into the match, but found themselves struggling to do so. They found themselves coming up against a resolute Macclesfield defence which by this stage was well packed out with bodies. They also found themselves prone to the odd break from Macclesfield, and Dean Stokes was often caught out of position. You always felt that Dale would get back into the game, but it was half time before you knew it, making the task even harder.

The second half saw no changes from Dale, and with attacking the main option. It is fair to say that the second half saw Dale completely camped out in the Macc half. Neil Edwards had very little to do at all in the second half.

Dale came very close to scoring on a number of occasions, but we didn't have to wait too long for Dale to grab a comeback goal. Mark Monington was the goalscorer when he fired in his shot from the edge of the penalty box.

After that it was a case of waiting for the equaliser. In form Graham Lancashire was introduced replacing Tony Ellis. Again Dale battered the home defence, with Chris Bettney causing all sorts of problems down the right wing. Bettney had his best game for Dale tonight, seemingly beating the home defence at will, and putting in some great crosses in the process.

Just when it looked like Dale would run out of time, up popped Mark Monington to score his second goal of the game. It seems this really is his competition following his golden goal at Halifax last year. It was a fully deserved goal that had been coming for most of the match.

From here on in, we were all square. Dale had the impetus and looked set to follow it up with a third, but Macclesfield also stepped up a gear and caused one or two problems themselves.
But it was not to be as the game went into extra time, which again was mostly Dale. Dale almost snatched it seconds into extra time, when they were attacking the Sandy Lane end. A great move saw Dale break into the box, saw the ball crossed into the six yard box, with the ball evading the Dale attacker by inches.

Minutes later, the referee turned down a good penalty shout by Dale. Graham Lancashire chased a ball and looked set to beat Dale reject Lee Martin to the ball, only to see himself impeded by a Macc defender. It looked a clear penalty, but the referee decided that it was a free kick to the visitors. To be fair to the referee, he was very close to the incident, but it did look a definite penalty.

The game was wrapped up just into the second period of extra time, when Dale, whilst pressing again, saw Graham Lancashire head a crossed ball into the back of the net to put Dale into the second round to this valid and worthwhile competition. It was just rewards.

This is the fourth time this season that Dale have come from behind to win, which demonstrates the mental strength that exists within the squad. Under Barrow, it was a common that once Dale fell behind, Dale would lose. This is no longer happening. This squad has the mental toughness, the character, the ability, and the desire to succeed. At the moment it seems we can do no wrong. We have even got the home form sorted. Five wins in six matches at home. Just one defeat in nine. Thank God this Parkin fella aint going to Chesterfield.

Dale: Edwards, Evans, Stokes, Hill, Monington, Bettney, Flitcroft, Peake, Atkinson (Jones), Platt, Ellis (Lancashire)

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