Dale produced a stunning performance to result in one of their biggest shocks in years to defeat Second Division Huddersfield Town on their own manor to reach the Second Round of the Worthington Cup for the first time since 1993. My report is now finally online!

Against the odds, Dale produced what was arguably their biggest cup shock since drawing away at Watford in 1986. It was a fantastic performance which was thoroughly professional from start to finish, which saw us record our first ever win over Huddersfield.

There were few people at the game would could deny that we didn't deserve the victory after a gritty display which encompassed everything which has been great about Steve Parkin teams: effort, determination and work rate. They players never stopped from the first whistle to the final one and in all honesty we were very worthy winners.

It might not have been Dale creating wave after wave of attacks, but we did what we had to do, and never really looked in any trouble. We got the goal, defended supremely and looked very, very comfortable indeed.

It's got to be said that Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium (named after a Scottish Ski slope?) is an absolutely fantastic stadium, and perhaps the best ground that any Dale team has ever played at. It was just a shame that there was such a low turnout, with less than 4000 at the game, despite over a thousand travelling over from the righteous side of the Pennines to cheer on the Dale.

With so few people there, the ground had an almost eerie feeling to it, like some sort of deserted ghost town. With the sky constantly changing colour as well, you could be forgiven for feeling a little uncomfortable. Well it is Yorkshire!

Dale boss Steve Parkin had been forced to change things round due to a couple of injuries. With record signing Paul Connor ruled out through injury, and only two strikers at the club, Parkin opted to go with a 4-5-1 formation, with Plattini up front on his own. There were recalls for Neil Edwards, who took his place back between the sticks again with Gilks dropping to the bench, and Dave Flitcroft made a return to a five man midfield. There was also a first start for Keiron Durkan who played down the left in place of Matt Doughty, who was an unused substitute.

With the sky red all around, the game kicked off at about the same time as the drizzle did, making the ball zip about a little bit faster on the wonderful playing surface at the McAlpine Stadium.

Dale showed their enthusiasm for the game in the opening few minutes of the match, when they took the game to their hosts, looking very lively in the process. We created a couple of close chances but nothing which was going to worry Town's ex City and Southend keeper Margetson.

After this opening spell, the home side stepped up a gear, and for a while they looked a side who played first division football last season. They played some great football, and had us pinned back in our own half. At this point, it looked like the decision to play with just one striker was a mistake, as we were finding it very difficult to clear our own lines, and the Terriers had a succession of corners.

But it was during this spell, that their pattern of play for the entire game seemed to be mapped out. A lot of nice play approaching the box, stretching some of our players in the process, but as soon as they tried to get the ball into the box, they were toothless. But why? They were playing Andy Booth who played for Spurs last season, and Coleman had him in his pocket! All hail the bald Messiah!

So after this spell of pressure which Dale coped with so easily, it was time to go down the other end of the field and take the lead. So we did.

With a lovely rainbow, breaking through the horrible Yorkshire skyline, a mistake in the Huddersfield defence gave the ball straight back to Keiron Durkan who laid the ball off to Lee Todd. Toddy produced an absolutely stunning cross, which had Margetson hesitating about whether to come out for it or not. The cross went straight to the back post to Tony Ford, who was left with a simple header  to put Dale in front against their Yorkshire opponents.

With only twenty minutes gone in the game, it was never going to be easy if the plan was to defend for the rest of the game. It was made a whole lot harder minutes later when defender Gareth Griffiths (who retained the captaincy despite Edwards being back in the team!!!) pulled up with a twisted knee, forcing him to limp off. Griffiths has been an absolute rock for Dale this season, and with our only defender on the bench a left back, a re-shuffle was needed. Wayne Evans went to play the central defensive role he does so well at, with Lee Todd switching to right back, and Sean McAuley on as left back.

But there was no way that the Dale defence was going to let a set back like this affect things, and they stood firm for the rest of the half. Again, Huddersfield showed some nice touches and they knocked it about well within the Dale half, but they became all Steptoe like as soon as they got near the box.

Indeed, it wasn't until injury time in the first half that they had their first effort on goal (which proved to be the only real save that Taffy made). Andy Booth for this first time all evening showed his class when he headed the ball into the top corner, but Edwards was more than equal to it, tipping it over for a corner.

Half time: Huddersfield 0 Dale 1

After their poor showing in the first half, Huddersfield boss Lou Macari opted to make two substitutions at half time but they did very little to alter the pattern of play in the second half.

If anything, the second half was more comfortable on the field than it was in the first half, but in the stand behind the Huddersfield goal where the Dale fans were housed, it was far from it. Personally, I think it was the fault of the clock on the giant scoreboard, which always necessitates a look on an all too regular basis. I remember looking at it every thirty seconds at one point!

But Dale continued to stand firm throughout the second half, and if anything the further the game went on, we looked the team more like to score a goal. In defence, we were outstanding, with Wayne Evans at the heart of everything. He has played some great games for the club, but I think this was his finest.

Up front Clive Platt continued to work extremely hard as the lone striker, something which Huddersfield failed to realise all evening. This made it harder for Plattini to carve out any chances, but at least it kept the an extra Town player back out of harms way.

Huddersfield had the majority of the possession during the second half, but they still just didn't know what to do with it. There's been criticisms of Dale recently for lacking that creativity, but Huddersfield couldn't even spell it on this showing. To have so much possession and still not create a single chance is woeful.

As the game wore on, the result looked more and more assured, and despite Dale giving away a number of free kicks just outside our own penalty box, we had the opposition's ineptness to thank on occasions. Indeed, on one such free kick, it was clear that Huddersfield had a clever little move planned out. Fortunately for us, they hadn't practised it yet, and the two players ran into each other.

As the game approached its final few minutes, Dale had a decent shout for a penalty turned down, when Plattini was shoved in the back when he attempted a header. I think he was just that knackered after eighty odd minutes of solid running, he just didn't have the strength to hold the defender off.

But after four minutes of added time, mostly for an injury to Dave Flitcroft (looked like cramp) in the final minute, which saw Paul Ware come on as his replacement, referee Mike Ryan blew his whistle to end the match, sparking the now usual scenes of celebration in the away end amongst the Dale hordes.

A thoroughly well deserved victory for Dale, in which the home side could have few arguments! And yet another away win in Yorkshire!

Photo: Action Images

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