As Mary Poppins once said 'Super Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, but Griffiths is atrocious!' Dale are denied a victory at Torquay in injury time, after Gareth Griffiths turned from hero to villain.

Paul Simpson has bought himself some time with this hard earned, if somewhat undeserved point. For 60 minutes Dale were second best, defending almost constantly, and doing so very well, before finally showing some guts and determination to take the lead, only to have captain Griffiths sent off for a second booking and then concede an equaliser in injury time.

Simmo opted to drop himself for the game in favour of Dave Flitcroft, and thus reverted to a 3-5-2 formation. Defensively it was seemingly quite solid, but it was worrying, seeing Torquay launch attack after attack at Dale. But to be fair to our defence we kept them out, and Taffy only had one save to make in the first half.

Torquay were far and away the better side, but couldn't muster many shots on target. They had good claims for a penalty turned down as David Graham was brought down in the box, but the referee didn't give it. Another joke of a ref by the way today, surely the man has cataracts?!

Dale were forced into an early change as Beech limped off injured and was replaced by Paddy McCourt, who was struggling to get into the game, and was giving away silly free kicks, however he soon settled in the second half and caused all sorts of problems.

Torquay's play revolved around ex Dale man Alex Russell, but thankfully Dave Flitcroft was marking him tighter than some panty-liner wings! Another star performance from the pornstar today. Seems like he is working off all those blamonges he has eaten in the past! (Don't ask! The minibus know what I am on about!)

Early into the second half Torquay took a deserved lead. A flicked on header at the near post found Martin Gritton completely unmarked at the back post to slam the ball home, giving Taffy no chance. Not soon later and Taffy produced yet another wonder save, diving to his left to tip a flying drive wide.

The goal seemingly woke Dale up, and the first time in god knows how long we had a bit of fight about us. Dave Flitcroft produced a stunning volley which was tipped magnificently on to the bar by ex Dale hero Keith Welch. However the whistle had already gone for offside.

Dale introduced Lee McEvilly in place of Lee Duffy and went to a 4-4-3 formation to try and grab something from the game. It seemingly worked. Well done Simmo with the tactic change, something Hoyland could learn from, seems like we are a duck with one leg with Hoyland, swimming round in circles all the bloody time.

Clive Platt met a cross with his head which was seemingly blocked on its way to goal by a Torquay hand, but not surprisingly the referee didn't give it. Dale grabbed an equaliser when a mistake at the back let Paul Connor in on goal, and he struck the ball on the bounce into the far corner to send the Dale fans wild.

Paddy McCourt was causing all sorts of problems and it was this that led to Dale taking the lead. He won a succession of corners, and from one Griffiths rose at the near post, though maybe Connor got a nick on it too, but Griffiths seemingly claimed it. Dale were in the lead!

Could they actually hold on for a victory? Well no was the answer to that. Griffiths picked up a silly yellow card, a blatant foul, when he knew he should have kept his head. He had played well up till then, but he has cost ultimately cost us a win, with a silly sending off. Neil Edwards for captain, and NOW!

Torquay grabbed an equaliser in injury time as Hazell stabbed in a close range effort. Was it really that unexpected that they would score though!?

Late sub Kev Townson almost stole the three points back for the Dale though. His shot when one on one with Welch was saved magnificently. Just wasn't to be for Dale.

Nice to see most of the players come over and applaud the Dale fans, not Simmo though, who chose to argue with the referee instead, and then walked off without so much of an acknowledgment to the hardcore few who had braved the cold. Not acceptable.

Simmo has gained himself a bit of time, but for an hour it was same old Rochdale yet again. The problems hadn't been solved at all. For some reason we burst into life though, and the guts we showed to get in front probably give us reason to think we deserved a draw. Stupidity in the end cost us a win, but the home side fully deserved a share of the spoils.

Photo: Action Images

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