Tony Ellis scored a controversial goal to finish off a controversial game which saw two players sent off and manager Steve Parkin ordered from the dugout by the referee for what was deemed to be use of industrial language.

At 4:48pm the fourth official raised his board to indicate that there would be four minutes of injury time to be played. At 4:55pm, Tony Ellis rose at the back post to give Dale a well deserved equaliser in a game which ended in a very bad tempered way. The referee sent off three people, with manager Steve Parkin and Gary Jones sent down the tunnel by the official.

The game was played in blazing sunshine, with many of the 200 or so Dale fans present catching the sun on one side of their face. Dale went into the game with just the one change from the side that lost at home to Peterboro four days previous. With Graeme Atkinson out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage, left back Sean McAuley stepped in to replace him. The Plymouth side consisted of Helen Chamberlain lookalike Paul McGregor and former Oldham striker Sean McArthy, who it is fair to say, likes a pie or two.

The first half was a strange affair with Dale having a lot of the possession, but it was the home side had the bulk of the chances, and they could easily have found themselves three or four goals up by half time, had they had someone up front capable of putting the ball into the back of the net. Dale were certainly holding for half time and would have been relieved to go in at half time still in contention.

After a fairly even first thirty minutes, the home side suddenly stepped up a gear and came close to scoring on several occasions. One chance saw them awarded a free kick just outside of the box, in a very similar position to the one from which we conceded on Tuesday. The ball was curled over the wall but in merely hit the side netting. Whether Edwards would have got there or not is another question, but surely it is time for Dale to consider sticking someone on the line alongside Edwards. Another effort saw striker Guinan hit the post just before half time.
Tony Ford MBE was withdrawn half way through the first half when he looked to have picked up a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Sean McClare, and Ford received a round of applause from the home fans as he was carried off. Its amazing what a gong can bring you.

It wasn't one way traffic by a long way, but Dale had difficulty getting through the home defence. Dale had a great shout for a penalty turned down, when Sean McAuley was brought down following a neat one two which saw him receive the ball in a great position in the box. It looked a definite penalty (well it did from near on eighty yards away). However, the ref would have been unlikely to give such a vital decision Dale's way in front of a hostile home crowd.

Half time saw Dale legend Reg Jenkins introduced to the crowd. Jenkins had a spell down at Plymouth before moving to Dale and still lives in the area. This was a very nice gesture by Plymouth to get someone popular to the away fans to do the half time draw.

The second half was a different matter, with Dale learning from their first half mistakes and looking a more comfortable. However, the lack of width with Ford and Atkinson both now missing meant Dale struggled to really threaten. Plymouth continued to make chances, with Edwards having to race out of his goal at the start of the second half to prevent McGregor racing in to score. Plymouth, despite playing some nice passing football, seemed to be at their most dangerous when the ball was played over the top, with McArthy's elbows presenting problems for Mark Monington in the Dale defence.

The home side didn't have to wait too much longer before they took the lead. The goal came when Dale were starting to come into the game more, and came close to creating chances. The goal came when home defender O'Sullivan pushed the ball through to the ever lively McGregor who had raced through, beating McAuley before firing the ball past Edwards.

Dale stepped up a gear at this point, and started to cause one or two problems of their own. Unfortunately this meant leaving gaps at the back, which were almost taken advantage of once or twice. Jason Peake came close to grabbing an equaliser for Dale, when he weaved his way through the home defence only to fire wide of the post.

Dale forced a series of corners, which again caused a little heartache for the home side. Graham Lancashire was introduced in place of Clive Platt, as Dale went all out for the equaliser. However, as the substitution was being made, Dale boss Steve Parkin was "sent off" and told to leave the dugout by the referee. It was reported afterwards that this was for a number of complaints about the standard of officiating by the referee, who at this point still had some control over the proceedings.

As the game entered the last ten minutes, Dale had a series of attacks, but once again keeper Sheffield didn't really have to produce a save. However, the game was marred by trouble by the players in the closing minutes, in what up till this point had been a good natured game, save for a Flitcroft first half challenge.

The on field trouble was instigated by the actions of keeper Sheffield. Sean McClare chased a through ball with the Plymouth keeper winning the ball. His reaction was completely over the top, as he raced over the line (thus meaning Dale should have had a corner, but nevermind eh?), to confront McClare who had done little wrong, and certainly did nothing to warrant the yellow card he received for his actions. A couple of other players got involved, but it was this incident which gave the game an ill feeling which had not been present previously.

Five minutes after, all hell broke loose. Keith Hill received a booking for a foul against his former side. Whilst this was taking place, Dale defender Mark Monington and Argyle star McGregor had a few choice words with each other, with both players' heads making contact. The linesman raced onto the pitch, informing the referee that Gary Jones and McGregor had headbutted each other, sending both players off. Jones looked amazed at the decision, as Monington got away Scot free with the incident.

Dale continued to attack, with Chris Bettney brought on to offer a bit of width. He made it difficult for the Argyle defence, with a couple of decent crosses. One cross in injury time must have been so powerful that it sent Plymouth's Guinan sprawling on the floor after it struck his face. He spent a good while on the floor as the Dale fans looked round to see who had shot him. Funnily enough, he was alright to continue after the Argyle physio spent two minutes washing his face. Dale were looking quite threatening at this point, and it took the sting out of Dale's attack, as it allowed the home side to regroup and get numbers behind the ball for the remaining seconds. However, it was the time added on for this "injury" that enabled Dale to grab a late equaliser.

Bettney put in another fine cross for Tony Ellis to leap at the back post and head home to send the long travelled supporters wild behind the goal, and to send the neanderthalic home fans in the Popular stand even wilder.

A point was not enough for either side, with both teams needing a win for their play off hopes. Neither side are out of the play off equation, but both teams really need to win all three of their remaining games if they are to make the top seven. If either side were to make it now, they would find themselves hampered by the suspension of one of their best players. McGregor has a huge influence on the Argyle side, and they would surely struggle without his services. Gary Jones has also shown himself to be a very valuable player for Dale in recent months, and his loss, especially as it didn't look to be his fault, could be very crucial for Dale.

Manager Parkin was very critical of the refereeing after the match, saying: "I think the referee spoiled a good game. It was an important match for both clubs, but the referee lost control towards the end and wanted to be centre of attention. Plymouth had the better of it in the early stages. This is a difficult place to come, and I was delighted to get the draw."

Photo: Action Images

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