Dale got their first league win in six matches as they beat troubled Carlisle at Spotland. This brought three very welcome points as Dale recorded a league double over Carlisle for the first time in almost forty years.

In fact, this made it three wins out of three for Dale against United this season. The score line did not reflect Dale's dominance over the Cumbrians who managed only three shots on goal in the entire afternoon, two of which came from controversial penalty decisions.

Dale went into the game, sticking with the formation that worked so well at the Britannia Stadium three days previously. The only change from that starting line up was the introduction of new loan signing Sean McClare in place of Jason Peake. A disappointing crowd turned up to watch this encounter, with less than 2500 turning up. This included a few hundred making the journey down the M6, obviously buoyed on by recent successes against Dale's promotion rivals Barnet and Peterboro.

Although the apathetic people of Rochdale may have written off this season already, it was clear right from the start that Dale hadn't. Although not quite playing to the standards seen at Stoke in midweek, it was a comfortable victory, and Dale could and should have wrapped the game up a long time before the final whistle. However, it was disappointing to see such a low crowd turn up.

The game began scrappily, and it was the visitors who had the first shot of the match, but the ball was a long, long way from troubling Neil Edwards. However, we didn't have to wait long before Dale took the lead. A Tony Ford corner was knocked into the net by defender Mark Monington. This was exactly the start we were looking for and a big score was on the cards.

For once, Dale did not sit back on their lead, and to be fair they couldn't. Back to back wins had a positive effect on Carlisle, and they looked a far superior side than they did in the AWS victory. They certainly looked better going forward, but still remained dodgy at the back.

They had an attack down the right wing, with their player attempting to skin the Dale defender. As he dummied to go right then left, he appeared to stand on the ball and fall over, just before a challenge was coming in. With most of the Sandy Lane fans laughing at this, the referee decided to award a penalty without a single appeal from any of the Carlisle players or supporters. Television replays may prove their to be contact, but it looked to be the first of a series of poor decisions by the referee Scott Mathieson. Midfielder Steve Soley stepped up, sending Neil Edwards the wrong way to equalise for Carlisle.

The rest of the half was played out with neither side creating any real chances. Dale proved they were capable of playing the neat football we are used to under this new system, though clear cut chances were thin on the ground.

After the fourth official announced that there would be three minutes of injury time from somewhere, Dale regained the lead, and it was in very similar circumstances to the first goal. A Tony Ford corner was crossed over, and it was converted by Mark Monington. The only difference being that this time there was a touch from Dave Bayliss as the ball came over. This goal came at just the right time, as for a while the only thing for Dale fans to cheer was the latest scores from the Deva Stadium as they flashed up on the electronic scoreboard.

The second half was very similar to the first. Lots of midfield play, Dale grabbing a goal from a corner, and the referee awarding a dodgy penalty. Dale increased their lead fifteen minutes into the second half. Tony Ford put in another corner and this time it was veteran striker Tony Ellis who got onto the end of it heading the ball past keeper Luke Weaver with ease.

From here on in, it looked a case of how many Dale would score. It looked like Dale had made it four when Tony Ellis had broke free of the Carlisle defence which was breaking up as the game progressed. With the away defence catching him up, and Weaver rushing out of his goal, he saw his effort smothered by the keeper with the rebound going wide of the post.

New boy Sean McClare had a similar chance, although his run was slightly wider. He broke free of the defence, and as he tried to come inside, he saw himself tackled with the ball being put out for a corner. Unbelievably the referee gave a goal kick, as his popularity amongst the home supporters was rapidly decreasing. Within minutes, he was completely crossed off this year's Xmas card list.

Carlisle were having a rare trip into the Dale half, with a break down the right hand side. As the attacker approached the box, the ref decided that Dave Bayliss had brought him down inside the box, and awarded a penalty for the second time in the match. Again Steve Soley stepped up and converted the spot kick to put the Cumbrians right back in the contest.

The worry at this point was that it could go either way. Memories of Southend came flooding back with the fear that Dale would blow their lead. Manager Steve Parkin opted for three changes for the closing minutes by introducing Hill, Peake and Holty for the tiring Bayliss, McClare and Ellis. Bayliss looked distraught for his role in the 2nd penalty as he sneaked off the pitch.

The remaining minutes brought a couple of hairy moments, including Carlisle's first shot on target (penalties aside) in the 90th minute. Dale had enough chances to wrap it up, and it was only the width of the post which denied Dale making it four following a goal mouth scramble.

The referee decided there would be four minutes of injury time to be played, which seemed ridiculous. Seeing that he awarded offside against Michael Holt when he started his run inside his own half when the ball was played, it was perhaps understandable. However, the vast majority of the injury time was spent in the Carlisle half with Mark Monington almost claiming his hat trick when he saw his header from yet another corner headed off the line.

The final whistle brought much relief as Dale secured their first league win since mid-February, but to be honest it was just what they deserved. This wasn't the greatest performance of the season by a long way, but it brought the right result, and at this stage of the season, that is all that matters. There were several good performances in the Dale team. Graeme Atkinson proved again that he is finding form. Sean McClare had an excellent debut showing class from a higher division. He tired late on, showing lack of match fitness, but this will improve, and he looks to be an excellent acquisition by Steve Parkin. Tony Ellis had a fine match and was well worth his goal. Tony Ford put in some great corners, and they were the catalyst for all three Dale goals, but the man of the match had to be Mark Monington who bagged two goals for himself and defended well.

The new formation again looked to work, though on a couple of times, we did look outnumbered at the back. Perhaps, we could be punished by a better side than Carlisle whilst playing this way. The best thing about this system, is that is gives up options, and my one criticism of Dale this season has been that we are a tad too predictable in our style of play.

Dale are back in real contention for a play off place. If, and that's always a big if, games in hand are won, Dale will be up to sixth place. However, it seems the public of Rochdale seem to have already made their minds up, and given up for 1999-2000. The crowd was even smaller than the corresponding fixture last season, which is poor considering the improvement shown during this term.

Dale: Edwards, Evans, Bayliss (Hill), Monington, Ford, Flitcroft, McClare (Peake), Jones, Atkinson, Lancashire, Ellis (Holt)

Photo: Action Images

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