St.James Park? Jurassic Park more like it. This was like a trip to a museum to see how football grounds used to be in the bad old days. The Dale fans were housed in what is incredibly called a grandstand. Something there for the Trade Description people I think. Anyway it consists of a wooden stand, with most seats having at least one of the goals obscured by posts (despite assurances when buying the tickets that there were NO restricted views).

 

In this stand, there were three toilets, two for ladies and one for blokes. Now surely that is taking equality that little bit to far. What's worse, is that the gents toilet was shared with the home fans. Imagine, the away fans at Spotland having to come into the Sandy Lane to use the toilets? Exeter were fortunate that Dale fans are so easy going and friendly or there literally could have been carnage. There was also a smoking ban. Understandable with the wooden stands, and Dale fans were reminded of this by faded "NO SMOK" signs that blew about in the wind. However, the stewards refused to let the Dale fans smoke in the concrete parts down by the turnstile with no wood about, nor would they allow them into any other parts of the ground.

 

To top it all, before the game part of the roof blew off and landed on a passing car. Why they wouldn't put us into the terrace behind the goal like they do to other clubs? That end was set aside for home supporters for this game, and housed not many more than about ten people for the duration of the game, whilst the Dale end looked dangerously close to its capacity with around 250 Dale fans making the long trip to Devon. This really is the worst ground in the football league by a long way. Bitter about the result? Whatever gave you that idea.

Anyway, on to footballing matters. The match itself was played in a swirling wind for the full ninety minutes, and Dale never got to grips with the conditions. It was very difficult to play passing football, with the ball being blown all over the place, and because of this, Dale were never in the game. Dale had very few chances to speak of, and only one shot which tested the keeper in any way.

Dale started the match with a gambled team selection. Graeme Atkinson was asked to play as left back. Atkinson had often played as left wing back for Scarboro last season, so it wasn't a totally alien position for him. Jason Peake was recalled to the side, but it looked a touch and go decision as he was nowhere near his usual self. Tony Ford was recalled to the starting line up in place of Chris Bettney/ The biggest gamble was goalkeeper Neil Edwards. Taffy pulled his hamstring in the warm up, but started the game anyway. After three minutes, it was decided he could play no further part in the game, and Phil Priestley came on for only his second league match.

Within seconds of the start of the match, it was obvious that the wind would play a major part in the game. Exeter looked a poor side, and not a shadow of the team who did so well at Spotland earlier in the season, however, their tactics of defending and attacking in numbers did seem to cope a lot better with the wind. They were a fairly big size with plenty of pace which gave them a clear advantage in this contest.

It wasn't long before Sub keeper Phil Priestley was called into action when he tipped a close range shot just wide of the post. So far so good. He had a lucky escape not long after when one Exeter forward cleared the cross bar from within the six yard box. It took Priestley a while to settle, looking unsure when the ball was crossed in, but in these conditions, any keeper would struggle to track the ball.

Dale as you would expect had plenty of possession, but seemed unable to do anything with it. Crosses were made, but they ended up nowhere near the intended target. Dale came close when AWS hero Mark Monington managed to get his head on the end of a cross, but his effort went over the bar.

Soon after, Dale found themselves one down when Exeter's midfielder Aaron Brown, on loan from Bristol City, found himself in acres of space on the left wing, with no Dale players anywhere near him. He moved into the box, and fired past the diving Priestley.

Minutes later it was two nil. The ball came over into the box going straight to Graeme Atkinson. However, Atko failed to cope with the pressure of veteran Exeter striker Darren Rowbotham, who won the ball of him, and fired past Priestley.

The second half saw Dale have the wind at their backs, but again struggled to have any impact on the game. Exeter were content to sit back on their lead, and there could not have been more than 3 chances in total for both sides in the entire second half. Dale still could not master the conditions, and showed little to suggest that a fight back could be on the cards.

With just less than half an hour to go, Steve Parkin decided to make a double situation bringing on Platt and Bettney for Peake and Evans, and it almost paid off within minutes. Lancashire got the ball and started to make a run similar to the one which led to Ellis's winner against York. Chris Bettney had made a run on the left hand side, and Lanky had spotted him. Lanky passed the ball, but an Exeter defender managed to get a foot on it to intercept the pass. If he hadn't, Bettney would have all the time in the world.

Well that was it really, with Dale never looking like grabbing even a consolation. You can blame the conditions. You can blame the fact that we had to go to extra time on Tuesday night in the AWS. You can blame the fact that Edwards's injury limited our substitution options. All of these had some sort of effect, but when it comes down to it, too many of the Dale players under performed in today's game.

"We never adapted to the conditions as well as Exeter and we were second best on the day," said manager Steve Parkin. "But we have been going well over the last few games. Hopefully this was only a blip and we can put it right very quickly.".

Perhaps a game like this was always going to happen. It is only our second defeat in thirteen matches, and St.James Park has never exactly been the luckiest of grounds for us over the years. We are still in eighth place and in touch with the leading pack. It may well have been a poor defeat, but there is no reason for panic stations just yet.

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