Goal of the Decade: Round 2
Tuesday, 29th Dec 2009 20:57

Next round for Goal of the Decade. As before, the nominated goals are in the poll on the right hand side of your screen somewhere below.

Goal of the Decade

Goal 1 - Glenn Murray: Chesterfield 3 Dale 4 - 16th Jan 2008

This goal came from a match that was memorable for all sorts of reasons. For a start, winning 4-3 away from home is hardly a common place victory. Also, the game is well remembered for the hat trick from David Perkins - a player who'd only ever scored once before in his entire professional career. But for many of those who put up with Saltergate on this cold January evening, it was Glenn Murray's goal which was the real highlight of the night. The goal came in the last minute or so, sealing the victory (despite a late scare after conceding again), but when Gary Jones gave Murray the ball on or around the halfway line, all thoughts were about Murray taking it as far as the corner flag to waste away the last few seconds. Murray had different ideas and waltzed his way to the Chesterfield area, dancing around the Chesterfield keeper to score Dale's fourth goal. Unfortunately for us, that goal proved to be Murray's last bit of action in a Dale shirt as within a day or two he'd been sold to Brighton to help pay for recent postponements. But what a way to go out!

Goal 2 - Jason Peake: Halifax 0 Dale 2 - 12th Feb 2000

This is the earliest goal to have been featured in this Goal of the Decade competition and without doubt, this was the first great goal of the modern era. Back in the 80's, we could pick out a couple of goals before settling on the Wakenshaw goal, the 90's had a handful of goals to choose from, but this goal announced the decade as far as Dale were concerned. Trips to the Shay always meant the same thing: getting the train, getting a drink in every pub between the station and the ground, becoming the most Lancastrian people on the planet, wondering what progress had been made to Halifax's new stand, and the most guaranteed three points in the world. We loved our visits into deepest, darkest Yorkshire. But this visit was something special as we witnessed Jason Peake's finest moment for Dale. Given extra spice that he was an ex Halifax player, and them lot needed no extra reasons to dislike us, he produced the most stunning overhead kick seen by a Dale player. Edge of the area, back to goal and the large travelling support went ape.

Goal 3 - Scott Warner: Dale 3rd Sept 2005

When it comes to legendary goalscoring midfielders, then Scott Warner is certainly not in the same class as Simpson or Jones or Buckley. Arguably, when it came to scoring goals, Warner wasn't in the same class as someone like Mark Payne. But he was a decent defensive midfielder who came through the ranks, who unfortunately was given all the respect that players coming through the ranks got. He had a grand total of one goal to his name, that coming in a goose related match at Scunthorpe. So when he decided to double his goalscoring tally, there were dropped jaws aplenty at Spotland. But to do it with possibly the longest range effort since Andy Flounders noticed the keeper off his line, well nobody would have thought it possible. But Warner left his mark at Spotland with an effort that won goal of the season for 2005-6. He'd received the ball just outside of the centre circle, and decided to let fly from a good thirty yards, sending the ball into the back of the net when no one had even considered a shot possible. An outstanding effort.

Goal 4 - Rickie Lambert: Leyton Orient 1 Dale 4 - 20th August 2005

On the face of it, you could question the inclusion of this one. Certainly you could if you'd been watching Dale for around six or seven years. But for Dale supporters of a certain age, Brisbane Road was enough to give you nightmares, even if it had been ridiculously renamed the Barry Hearn is Ace Matchroom Steve Davis Is a Director Stadium, or something like that. We always lost there. Lost didn't do it justice. We were always hammered there. I even remember celebrating a draw Premiership style one Tuesday night. In fairness, we had won here before but this was more than that. In true cockernee stylee, the O's were lording it up after their fantastic start to the season. Even the tannoy man was in on the act, though this did provide the only time I've ever heard Sonic Youth played inside a football stadium - Hi Ho Silver Lining it was not. And then Dale put on a masterclass. This was footballing to death before the phrase had even been considered. But it was a trademark free kick from Lambert that has got this nomination. From fully thirty yards out, he made it look so simple. He'd been in a rich vein of form with free kicks at the time, and I remember writing in the report at the time about the free kick: Lambert knew where it was going, the Dale fans knew where it was going and Orient keeper Glyn Garner knew where it was going. But knowing where it was headed does not mean being able to prevent it happening, and it nestled somewhat beautifully in the back of the net.

Goal 5 - David Perkins: Dale 2 Darlington 1 - 17th May 2008

By all accounts, this goal shouldn't be here. If you're picking great goals, then you don't go for ones which are deflected efforts. But there was something almost magical about this one. The occasion played a part, given that this was the second leg of the Play Offs (like you didn't know). Also, it proved to be the last meaningful contribution from one of our greatest players in recent years as minutes later he was sent off (again like you didn't know), missed the Wembley final and buggered off the Colchester. But it was the way that it came from out of absolutely nothing. Even watching the Sky plussed coverage for about the 7000th time, their cameras are showing replays of something else when it just cuts back to Perkins as he lets fly. Picking the ball up, moving towards the box, but with little options, he decided to have a crack. The ball was in the air for what felt like hours. The emotions started with "that's going over" to "ooh am not so sure" to "YYYYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGH". Or something like that. A goal, we'll remember forever. And given the deflection came off Jason Kennedy, I think that gives us all the more reasons to claim this goal as being up there. YouTube link