Having gifted Barnet a 2 goal start Dale came roaring back at their shell shocked opponents with an Alfie Le Fondre hat trick enabling them to complete a thrilling fightback and book a 2nd round trip to Forest Green on November 29th.
Manager Keith Hill did make changes for the game with Ciaran Toner and Chris Dagnall both absent due to minor injuries and a new look front 2 of Jon Shaw and Le Fondre with Mark Jones making his long awaited first start alongside them.
It didn't look like being the best of nights as first half errors gave the visitors what might have been an unassailable lead. On 11 minutes a poorly floated Scott Wiseman was easily collected by Bees keeper Lee Harrison and when he punted the ball down the field Rory McArdle got caught underneath it allowing Irish striker John o' Toole to run clear and calmy slot past the advancing Sam Russell.
After Harrison had made the first of many fine saves to deny Jon Shaw the visitors doubled their advantage as the home defence failed to clear their lines and in trying to tidy things up Gary Jones only succeeded in finding Albert Adaomah with his back pass and the speedy winger had a simple finish.
Mr Hill switched things at the break sacrificing Mark Jones, bringing on battering ram Lee Thorpe and switching to an unfamiliar 4-2-1-3 formation with Will Buckley given a free role.
The changes ceratinly paid dividends as Dale went into "Whirling Dervish" mode producing a host of chances as Barnet were pinned into their penalty area in an Alomo type siege.
On 46 minutes Calrk Keltie skimmed the bar with a 25 yard volley and on 53 McArdle saw his header from a Tom Kennedy corner cleared off the line.
On 55 minutes a goal duly arrived as a quick free kick released Kennedy and his pin point cross was slid home at the far post by Le Fondre.
On 68 minutes Le Fondre turned provider with a peach of a pass for Kennedy and when his wickedly struck shot was brillinayly saved by Harrison the rebound was headed wide by Thorpe.Two minutes later after a lay off by Buckley striker Le Fondre saw his well struck shot deflect wide via the back of skipper Jones' head.
A deserved equaliser arrived on 73 minutes as yet another slick passing move left Le Fondre with space in the penalty area and his low shot left Harrison helpless.
Jones and Le Fondre were denied by the excellent Harrison on 77 and 78 minutes, McArdle had another goal bound header scooped off the line and in the dying minutes of normal time Harrison was again active in keeping efforts out from Jones and Le Fondre.
What turned out to be the winner arrived at the end of the first half of extra time as Le Fondre who had just singled to the bench that he needed to come off due to "exploded calves" found himself with space in the box and produced a lob reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle all those years ago against Watford to leave Harrison grasping at thin air. Joe Thompson volleyed the ball home as it crossed the line but Le Fondre was in mood to lose the match ball and is adamant that the goal is his.
In the 2nd period of time added on Buckley produced a stunning run that ended with his shot hitting the woodwork before he retrieved the ball, beat 2 more defenders and then saw Harrison again produce a wonderful save to deny him. Just after it Thorpe who did so much to change the shape of the game was denied a deserved goal as his effort was deflected over the crossbar by a wonderful last ditch challenge by defender Michael Townsend.
In terms of the FA Cup we can now look forward to a trip to Nailsworth in round 2 and a game against Jim Harveys Conference strugglers Forest Green Rovers.
Dale
Russell, Wiseman, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Jones (M) ( Thorpe 46), Keltie, Jones (G) Buckley, Le Fondre(Rundle 105), Shaw (Thompson 69)
Subs nu:- Spencer, Holness, ,, Ramsden,
Barnet
Harrison, Porter, Townsend, Yakubu, Gillet, Adomah, Deverdics(Birchall 80) , Bishop, Medley( Nicolau 82) ,O'Flynn( Carew), Leary
Subs nu-Kadoch, Burges, DeMaghales, Charles.
Officials
Referee Colin Webster
Assistants AJ Scregg and G Beswick
4th Official S P Cummins
