Lambert 4,12  Cartwright 20

 Rochdale move up to second in the table with a convincing display against Notts County at Spotland.  It was in effect game over after just twenty pulsating minutes after a brace from Lambert and a first from Cartwright.

Rochdale started very well and a good move from Dale with two minutes gone down the right hand side almost got Gary Jones testing Kevin Pilkington, but his prod went just wide from the cross of Holt.

Rochdale did take the lead moments later and in fine style too.  A third minute freekick was tucked away by dead ball specialist Rickie Lambert from 30 yards.

Dale were comfortable and with 12 minutes gone Lambert scored his and Dale's second after a superb first time cross from Alan Goodall

20 minutes gone and Lee Cartwright scores his first for the club after a combination of patient build up play and poor defending presented the chance for Cartwright.  Again from the left Goodall  swung over the ball that almost three headers from the County defence failed to clear.  Lambert nodded the ball back from the far post and Cartwright squeezed between two defenders to head home from close range.

Unsurprisingly Rochdale took their foot off the gas, but despite the drop in gear Parkin's side continued to boss proceedings.

Just after the half hour mark Lambert almost headed his third of the afternoon following a corner that again the County defence failed to clear.  Griffiths' downward header was almost lifted over the keeper by Lambert from six yards.

 The  second half began with Notts County making a change, Rubin Zadkovich taking the place of Dan Martin.

Rochdale livened up again in the second half and Alan Goodall combined well with Gallimore down the left Goodall crossed low for Lambert, but the hat-trick chaser couldn't get the ball out from under his feet allowing the defence to clear.

Notts County managed to take advantage of relaxed Dale side through substitute Zadkovich who danced his way from his own half to the edge of the box, but his low shot from 18 yards was easy for Gilks.

At the other end a chance for Goodall in the 60th minute set up nicely by Holt was well saved by Pilkington.  Goodall got into a great position again two minutes later after Griffiths played a long ball forward.  Goodall headed the ball forward and chased his own header into the box before shooting just wide from the angle.

Still Lambert looked for that elusive third goal and he was presented with a great chance by Goodall on 65 minutes.  The Dale striker got his head to the cross, but Pilkington was on hand to make the save and deny Lambert.

Steve Parkin had the luxury of taking off his main artillery in Holt and Lambert  as the game wore on.  With Berry bringing out a smart save from Matt Gilks in the closing stages to liven things up a little, the Dale fans began streaming out of Spotland happy despite a half that didn't live up to the first.