Coca Cola League Two - 26th September - 15:00
Venue - Spotland
Dale picked up their third win in succession with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Hereford, ending a winless run against the Bulls at Spotland which had lasted since 1993.
Keith Hill made one change from the side that beat Northampton 2-1 last Saturday, with new loan signing Simon Whalley coming in for Joe Thompson. This meant Kenny Arthur was between the sticks for Dale, with Scott Wiseman, Nathan Stanton, Craig Dawson and Tom Kennedy lining up along the back. Jason Kennedy and Gary Jones were alongside one another in midfield, with Will Buckley and Whalley on the wings. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall were up front for Keith Hill's men.
Dale will have been hoping to get off to a similar start to the one that put Northampton on the back foot last Saturday but the first shot on target came from the away side with five minutes played. Hereford's James Walker released a shot from 20 yards which Kenny Arthur had to dive to get to, but in the end it was a comfortable save for Dale's stopper.
Dale's first effort came from last week's match winner Will Buckley. He cut in from the left side but his right-foot shot was well saved by Hereford goalkeeper Adam Bartlett. Simon Whalley had a cross-shot moments later which almost deceived Bartlett. He drove at the Hereford defence down the right and floated a ball over, but it evaded the Bull's goal.
The opening twenty minutes were largely uneventful. Keith Hill's men were having the better of possession, but without creating any stand-out chances. However, Dale took the lead in the 20th minute, with Chris Dagnall claiming his sixth goal of the season. Simon Whalley chipped a great ball through the young striker who brought it down well. He managed to get the ball out from under his body and into the path of Captain Gary Jones, who looked for Will Buckley at the back post. Goalkeeper Bartlett got a palm to it, but it only fell to Dagnall six yards out who placed the ball into the back of the net to give Dale the lead.
Hereford were looking to get straight back into the game, which is exactly what they did three minutes later. There is a saying in football that you're most likely to concede just after you've scored - and this rang true for Keith Hill's side. Mark Marshall did well to win the ball down the right before cutting into the box and laying the ball off to Craig King. He scuffed a shot towards goal, but it fell kindly for Marc Pugh at the back post who beat Scott Wiseman to the ball to poke it home and equalise for John Trewick's men.
Pugh almost doubled his and his side's tally for the afternoon just minutes later when he fired off a 20 yard half volley which Kenny Arthur did well to be equal to and pluck the ball out of the air.
As the red arrows flew over Spotland, Dale's play on the pitch took a slightly more patient build up than the direct approach of the planes in the afternoon sky. Again, it was Hereford who had the better of the limited chances in the game and could have taken a goal advantage into half-time when Craig King bent a left-footed shot towards goal but just past the outside of the far post.
As the fourth official put his board up to signal one minute of added time, Keith Hill's side regained the lead after a magnificent counter attack. A Hereford corner was cleared into the path of Chris Dagnall who drove forward with the ball before playing in Simon Whalley (not Chris O'Grady as the Spotland Stadium announcer said!) who only had the 'keeper to beat, which he did with ease to put Keith Hill's side ahead for a second time in the game.
This was to be the last action of an exciting first half containing three goals, as Dale went into the break a goal to the good.
Both teams were unchanged as they emerged for the second half and Dale were looking to start the second period as they ended the first, with a goal. Chris Dagnall had a decent opportunity as he put the ball onto his right foot, but his shot was well saved low down by Bartlett.
As with the first half, the second took a while to get into full swing. Both sides were looking to create opportunities, with Dale carrying on with their slow and patient build-up play, but neither team could create a proper opening.
That changed on the hour mark when good link up play between Gary Jones and Chris O'Grady led to the Dale Captain playing a ball across the box from the left which Will Buckley got to, but he could only turn the ball against the Hereford post and the ball bounced to safety.
In the 64th minute Kenny Arthur was called into action for the first time in the half. Craig King had a left-foot shot well saved low to his left by the Scotsman to keep Dale a goal to the good.
The ten minutes following this chance were quiet as far as chances go, with both sides defending well as units to keep their opposition at bay. Gary Jones was the next to test Adam Bartlett in the Hereford goal, but his 20 yard effort was easily saved. Joe Thompson came on for Dale's second goal scorer Simon Whalley with around 13 minutes left.
As the clock showed ten minutes were left of normal time, Dale doubled their advantage. A cross came in from the left hand side which Chris Dagnall headed towards goal, but it was well saved by Adam Bartlett in the Hereford goal. However, it only came back out as far as Will Buckley, and after a scramble in the area, he managed to turn the ball into the roof of the net to score Dale's third.
Dale's first goal was cancelled out quickly by the Bulls in the first half, but it was Dale who followed up their own goal with another. A corner from the left found its way to the feet of Chris O'Grady who elected to flick the ball on to Craig Dawson at the back post. He skilfully brought the ball down on his thigh before turning and smashing the ball under Bartlett and into the back of the net for Dale's fourth of the afternoon.
With the confidence of Keith Hill's men now sky high there would have been no surprises if the home side made it 5-1. Chris O'Grady had a good chance on the turn with his left foot but he could only find the side netting. Joe Thompson then did superbly to ghost past several defenders and into the area before having a shot well saved by Bartlett. The ball came out to Gary Jones whose effort was well blocked.
As the game entered into three minutes of stoppage time, Chris Dagnall beat the offside trap, but he came back on himself rather than going for goal and eventually the chance passed.
That was the last action of a superb match, one which saw Dale pick up three points after a superb performance, taking them 5th in the League Two table.
Dale: Arthur, Wiseman, Stanton, Dawson, T Kennedy, Jones, J Kennedy, Whalley, Buckley, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Valentine, Lunt, Pugh, Gwynne, Jones, King, Blanchett, Marshall, Walker.
Referee: Mr CL Pawson. Assistant Referees: Mr A Newell & Mr P Bramley. 4th Official: Mr PC Wright.
Attendance: 2,620.
