Saturday 24th March 2007- 3pm

2

Rochdale

7 (seven)

 29

Wayne Hennessey 

1

Matt Gilks

 30

 Eddie Nolan

2

Simon Ramsden

 16

 Gareth Owen

12

Alan Goodall

 6

 Ashley Williams

 19

Lee Crooks  80

 3

 Michael Rose 52

11

Adam Rundle

 21

 Athony Pilkington

16

David Perkins

 20

 Jason Taylor

5

John Doolan

 4

 Tony Dining 46

6

Ben Muirhead

 33

 Tommy Rowe

18

Nathan Stanton

 10

 Liam Dickinson 75

30

Louis Dodds 77

 32

 Anthony Elding

17

Glenn Murray 88

Substitutes

 5

Michael Raynes 75

29

Lewis Edge

 14

 Adam Le Fondre 46

7

Steve Turnbull 80

 34

 Joe Lewis

9

Chris Dagnall 88

 9

 Tes Bramble

31

Danny Reet 77

 24

 Adam Griffin 52

 3

 Mark Jackson

SCORERS

BOOKINGS

Stuart Ashworth at Edgeley Park

First of all an apology for the length of time it took to get the report online, there was a lot to write about!

Rochdale continued their climb up the table by brushing aside Stockport County at Edgeley Park, slamming 7 (seven) past Jim Gannon's side.

The gap could have been a lot wider had two defensive blunders not given the home hope that they may just get something out of the game, but to dwell on these lapses wouldn't do Keith Hill's side justice.

Stockport started the game brightly enough and looking in command of matters from the first whistle, but with four minutes gone Dale took the lead and County collapsed.

Dale's first of a fantastic afternoon for just over 1000 travelling fans arrived after Gareth Owen was caught in possession just inside his own half by John Doolan.The scouse midfielder slotted the ball through for Glenn Murray and he raced into the box before turning Williams and slotting the ball into a gap made bigger by 'keeper Wayne Hennessey who drifted across to his near post.

It wasn't long before one became two after Alan Goodall rose to head home a Ben Muirhead corner on ten minutes.Stockport were visibly shaken not helped by poor passing and a crowd that got on their backs far too easily.

Rochdale took full advantage of the situation and almost made it three on 13 minutes after Ben Muirhead fired in a shot from the left hand corner of the box but Hennessey was equal to it making a flying save to his left.

Sadly for the on loan 'keeper he was picking the ball out of the net for a third time moments later after spilling a simple catch from a Lee Crooks freekick.Murray reacted quickly but was caught by a desperate lunge by Hennessey as he tried to recover and was tripped.Adam Rundle stepped up to fire the ball home.

Four minutes later and goal number four arrived following more pressure by Dale.Adam Rundle skipped down the left flank before cutting the ball back to Muirhead and he popped the ball home via a deflection of the defenders thigh sending Dale into dream land.

To be fair to Stockport they rallied for a time as Dale eased into job done mode and County into a nothing to lose one. On 31 minutes they got their reward though it'll be one that Dale 'keeper Matt Gilks won't want to see too many times.The Dale stopper raced off his line to cut out a lofted freekick but Stockport striker Anthony Elding got there before him and flicked a header into the unguarded goal.

County fans turned their jeers to cheers and with tails up the home pressed for more.It didn't take long before they got another and it was another gimme by the visiting side.This time Adam Rundle misplaced his back-pass and Elding was on hand to take full advantage, slotting the ball to the unmarked Dickinson and he smashed home from close range.

The roles had suddenly switched and it was Dale who looked rattled for a time and the half-time whistle couldn't have come soon enough.

When it did the general concensus of opinion was whoever scored the next goal would win the game and with that in mind the second half got under way.If, like me, you were anxious on how things would pan out, fear not with just a minute of the half getting under way Dale opened up the gap once more after a sweeping move brought the second of the afternoon for Muirhead.

Adam Rundle linked up with Simon Ramsden who curled in a cross from the right flank into the box.Murray, who was simply awesome for Rochdale, got up highest to head the ball down to Muirhead and he smashed the ball home on the half-volley.

Dale continued to ask the questions and they looked capable of scoring almost every time they ventured forward.On 52 minutes they reinstalled there four goal advantage after a corner from the right was met with a glancing Glenn Murray header making it 6-2 if you've lost count.

Stockport did create a couple of openings, the best of which came after a spinning volley by Dickinson looked likely to add to the goal fest on offer, but Gilks made a calm and collective save, plucking the ball out of the air superbly.

Danny Reet came on for Louis Dodds with around 10 minutes to go and could have added his name to the scoresheet had a defender not got in the way.Reet linked well with Muirhead before shooting from close range only to see his effort cleared off the line.

On 87 minutes Dale fans gave their appreciation to Glenn Murray after he was taken off and then welcomed the return of Chris Dagnall after a lengthy lay off with a broken foot.With just three minutes left on the clock plus stoppages the Dale striker didn't get much opportunity, just one in fact. It was possibly his one and only touch of the game, but it resulted in goal number 7 (seven) for Rochdale.

Fellow substitute Steve Turnbull picked the ball up on the half way line before surging forward unopposed towards the home side's box.He managed to squeeze in a shot towards the end of his run which cannoned off one defender into the path of 'Daggers' and he stabbed home from close range.

The day was complete and so too was the rout but full credit has to go to defeated manager Jim Gannon who shook every Dale players hand after the game, oh, and some too for Dale, who have now shook off the struggling, lowly and threatened tags from their descriptives.

Match Stats

ATTEMPTS

 7

ATTEMPTS

 9

ON TARGET

 5

ON TARGET

 8

FREEKICKS

 16

FREEKICKS

 14

CORNERS

 7

CORNERS

 10

OFFSIDE

 3

OFFSIDE

 1

YELLOW CARDS

 2

YELLOW CARDS

 1

RED CARDS

0

RED CARDS

0

POSSESSION

46%

POSSESSION

54%

Stats by PA

Star Player

Stockport County

Rochdale

 Tommy Rowe

 Glenn Murray

Managers Comments in Brief

Jim Gannon

Keith Hill

"I don't care if we had won one nil, we came for three points and we got them."

Don't forget the goals, post match interviews and much, much more are available on Rochdale AFC's premium website DALE WORLD.

If you haven't got your subscription yet then you're missing out on LIVE match commentaries, video highlights from every game, interviews and huge library of video clips with thousands to choose from.

Get closer to the heart of Rochdale AFC

Get your DALE WORLD subscription now!