Dale succumbed to a bitterly disappointing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Torquay on the English Riviera.

The first-half opened with Dale having some decent efforts, failing to convert. With the game approaching the half hour mark the worst thing possible happened to Dale when Scott Rendell pounced on hesitant Dale defending to poke home.

Then the home side double their lead within three minutes as Elliot Benyon nodded home despite looking to climb all over Nathan Stanton. It was Benyon who made it 3-0 inside nine first half minutes when he turned home a Chris Robertson header.

Dale would need a superb comeback in the second half to get anything out of the game, but the game was put beyond doubt shortly after the hour mark when Nicky Wroe converted a dubious penalty award. The score was made 5-0 in the 77^th minute after a superb individual goal from Mustapha Carayol.

Keith Hill made one change to the side draw drew 0-0 at home to Bournemouth on Easter Monday. Joe Thompson came in for Kallum Higginbotham in the free role behind the strikers. Frank Fielding was in goal, with Scott Wiseman, Nathan Stanton, Rory McArdle and Tom Kennedy making up the back four. Ciaran Toner, Jason Kennedy and captain Gary Jones were in midfield with Thompson just in front of them. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall were up top.

The anticipation in the build-up to the game was second to none. Today's game gave Dale their first opportunity to secure Promotion in what has been a fantastic season. With the English Riviera awash with Dale fans, there was always going to be a party, but that would be made much more special if Keith Hill's side could win promotion.

Both sets of fans inside Plainmoor were making great noise, and with three minutes gone the first chance of the game came, and it fell to Dale. Chris Dagnall managed to control a ball on the edge of the area before firing a left foot shot at home 'keeper Scott Bevan who could only palm the ball just in front of him to be cleared by his defence.

Dagnall was really finding some space in front of the Torquay defence, and after Chris O'Grady used his strength and touch to bring the ball down inside the area he laid Dagnall off, but the Dale number 9 dragged his left foot shot just wide of Bevan's left post.

Those early chances should have given Dale the initiative to take forward for a good spell, but the home side responded well and had the ball in good attacking areas of their own.

However, Dale were still creating shooting opportunities. Gary Jones had an effort from distance which flew wide before Joe Thompson made a superb run and superb control before he tried to lob Bevan, but his effort was a little off target.

The best chance of the game came in the 24^th minute and it fell to the home side. Chris Zebroski had a shot from distance which deflected up in the air to Scott Rendell who directed his header towards goal and only a superb Frank Fielding stop denied Torquay the opener.

With news of results elsewhere coming in, Dale spirits were high. However, Keith Hill's side most important objective was taking care of their own matters, and they took a blow in the 28^th minute when the home side took the lead. A shot from outside the area took a deflection and landed at the feet of Scott Rendell who poked the ball into the far corner of the goal leaving Frank Fielding with no chance.

The goal was a bitter disappointment for Dale but they had to make sure they didn't let their heads drop. However, just three minutes later Torquay doubled their lead through Elliot Benyon. A cross to far post saw Benyon appear to climb over Nathan Stanton to head the ball home, but the referee waved away any protests and the goal stood.

Dale had to get their heads round this quickly, but another three minutes later and the home side were so nearly 3-0 up. Tom Kennedy was penalised for seeming to climb over Chris Zebroski, a decision which angered the Dale faithful as it wasn't dissimilar from the one that went before it in the Dale area. The free kick was whipped in and only a Rory McArdle clearance kept the ball from crossing the line.

However, from the resulting corner Torquay did make it 3-0. A free header from Chris Robertson was on target and diverted home by Elliot Benyon who bagged his third of the game in front of the Dale fans.

Dale were clearly rocked by the quick goals as they struggled to string together any passing moves. Benyon could have had a first-half hat-trick when he found the ball at his feet, only to see his effort trickle wide of Frank Fielding's left post.

With five minutes to go in the half Dale looked for a way back into the game. Captain Gary Jones had a shot from 25 yards which just dipped over the crossbar.

However, even three minutes of Dale pressure couldn't create anything and the Dale players trudged off thoroughly disappointed as the half-time whistle went with the score at 3-0 to Torquay.

The half-time break saw Keith Hill make two changes. Craig Dawson came on for Scott Wiseman whilst Kallum Higginbotham came on for Ciaran Toner. McArdle went to right back with Dawson in the middle whilst Higginbotham went to the right wing.

If Dale were to have any way of getting back into the game they would need an early goal. There seemed to be more attacking intent from the away team and Tom Kennedy had the first shot of the half, only to see it roll narrowly wide.

Then came a mix up in the Dale defence as Craig Dawson played a ball to Rory McArdle whilst McArdle was making a run out to the touchline. Mustapha Carayol cut out the pass but fired his shot disappointingly wide.

Dale were having a huge amount of the possession but they had to convert that into goals. Then, on the hour mark, the referee awarded Torquay United a penalty to put the game beyond doubt. Frank Fielding came out and challenge Elliot Benyon, winning the ball but taking the striker out afterwards. However, referee Sutton failed to see Fielding win the ball and gave the penalty, which Nicky Wroe dispatched to make the score 4-0.

This saw Keith Hill make a substitution as Marcus Holness was brought on for Tom Kennedy at left-back.

Dale were completely shocked by the score line, and it showed as they began to give the ball away too easily. Nicky Wroe could have and should have made it 5-0 to Torquay when he fired over from 12 yards.

The score was so nearly in the 70^th minute when Elliot Benyon again broke through the Dale defence. The ball ricocheted between him and Nathan Stanton before rolling towards the goal, but Craig Dawson managed to slide onto the goal-line and clear.

Benyon came forward again with 15 minutes to go but saw his shot just roll wide of Fielding's right post. Dale had their first noticeable attack a minute later when Chris Dagnall had a shot which was well saved by substitute Michael Poke, who had come on for the injured Bevan minutes earlier.

Perhaps it was no surprise in the 77^th minute when Torquay made it 5-0. Mustapha Carayol was given so much time on the left side and he was able to cur inside onto his right foot and fire home past a helpless Frank Fielding.

This was fast heading to become Dale's heaviest defeat under Keith Hill. Even with the scoreline at 5-0 Torquay were not letting up as they still came forward in search of a 6^th goal.

The fourth official showed there would be three minutes added time, but with the game already over as a contest neither side created anything and the game came to a close at 5-0.

It was a thoroughly disappointing day for Dale who were poor throughout the game, but with other results going their way a win at home to Darlington on Tuesday would seal promotion.

Dale: Fielding, Wiseman, T Kennedy, Stanton, McArdle, Toner, J Kennedy, Jones, Thompson, O'Grady, Dagnall.

Torquay: Bevan, Nicholson, Ellis, Robertson, Mansell, Benyon, Rendell, Wroe, Carayol, Zebroski, Branston.

Referee: Garry Sutton. Assistant Referees: Mark Philpott, Mark Russell. Fourth Official: Justin Amey.