Rochdale jumped to second in the table thanks to a 4-1 home win against Torquay United with goals from Lambert x2, Holt and Warner. Player ratings return along with a full match report.

Rochdale got back to winning ways in style against Torquay United who went into the game at the foot of the table and after ninety minutes of having the mick taken out of them, they were well and truly rooted to the bottom as Dale battered them 4-1.

A couple of changes were made to the side that was beaten at Darlington as Tommy Jaszczun was dropped and replaced by Neil Brisco who made his fourth start of the season.  That was the only change and Dale lined up with Gilks in net, Clarke at right back, Goodall at left back and Boardman and Gallimore at centre back.  The three man midfield was made up of Scott Warner, Neil Brisco and Ernie Cooksey.  Blair Sturrock was up front with Rickie Lambert and Grant Holt.  Danny Woodhall, Tommy Jaszczun, Gary Brown, Gareth Griffiths and Clive Moyo Modise were on the bench.

The game started off fairly evenly and I remember thinking that Torquay were playing alright and no worse than any other team we'd beaten this season but that said with nearly fifteen minutes gone, we were ahead.

The referee blew up for a freekick just outside the Torquay area.  Think you can tell where this is going can't you!  Rickie Lambert stepped up and curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom corner past Marriott to make it 1-0 to Rochdale.  That was Lambert's fourth goal in seven league games and three of them have been awesome freekicks.

Unfortunately the lead didn't last very long, less than two minutes in fact.  The ball came in and found former Bournemouth striker Alan Connell who scored a great volley which he took on the turn to make it 1-1.  There was a silent patch after that from the Rochdale fans, Sandy Lane in particular but it suddenly got very loud after twenty two minutes when the home side went 2-1 up and through one of the most unlikely sources imaginable, even more so than Paul Tait!

Scott Warner picked the ball up about thirty yards out and actually had a shot which was as big a surprise as anything at the time but his pile-driver didn't fly into the WMG stand as I'd expected but flew past Marriott into the top corner for an absolutely stunning effort.  This made it 2-1 to Rochdale and was only Scott's second goal in just short of sixty games for Rochdale.  There was just pure delight mixed in with a bit of disbelief from the supporters but it was a fine strike!

Rickie Lambert was continuing to cause absolute havoc for the Torquay defence as he went in search for Rochdale's third and another goal to keep him up there with Grant Holt in the scoring charts and he went inches, if that, to getting a second with a fantastic effort.  He showed tremendous skill to beat one defender, flicked the ball over the head of another defender before volleying at full pelt and his effort hit the net but unfortunately it was the wrong side of the cross bar!  What an amazing goal that would have been!

The Dale defence were busy on occasions and Jon Boardman did brilliantly to get in front of Constantine to stop almost a certain goal and concede a corner instead.  The resulting corner saw Neil Brisco emulate his team mate and do the same to concede another corner and eventually the ball was cleared.

The half time whistle was blown and the Dale went in 2-1 up.

Torquay started the second half very well and could have scored twice very early on after the restart.  Connell had a header tipped over the crossbar by Gilks and Goodall managed to clear off the line from the resulting corner to keep Dale in the lead.

It took a while for Dale to get into the second half but the first attack they did have led to a goal. Grant Holt was sent through out on the left with just the keeper to beat but he had to cut inside to get near goal thus having his angle narrowed and he make the keeper pull off a save.  Fortunately for the Dale striker the ball was parried back to him and he tried to get in a shooting position with Marriot grounded and by this time two defenders were on the line so Holt decided to try and dink the ball over the top of them.  Taylor used his hands to stop the ball going in and the referee gave the penalty and sent Taylor off for deliberate handball.  With Jones still suspended, Holt stepped up like he did at Darlington and his spot kick was just as successful as he sent Marriott the wrong way to make it 3-1 to Dale.  It was Holty's sixth league goal in just seven games.  He must still be top of the League 2 scorers surely!

That was game, set and match really but Rochdale weren't finished there.  With just over twenty minutes left, Rochdale made it 4-1 thanks to another Rickie Lambert goal.  Blair Sturrock managed to dispossess the Torquay monster Sako and sent Ernie Cooksey away down the left wing and he pulled the ball back from the goal-line to Lambert who was running in unmarked and he side footed home for his fifth goal of the season.

Clive Moyo Modise was introduced in the place of Grant Holt and Moyo's first touch almost gave him a goal when a cross came his way in the box and his volley flew wide of the post.

With less than ten minutes to go and the game well and truly over, Gary Brown came on for Neil Brisco and a few minutes before that Tommy Jaszczun came on for Blair Sturrock who had run all game and was absolutely knackered.

Rickie Lambert had several chances to get the hatrick but he ran out of luck as Marriott seemed determined to restrict him and keep the score at 4-1.

The final whistle blew and it was a great result for the Dale which sees them climb to second in the table, just a point behind Notts County.  Boston away is next up for Rochdale as they take on the team with the biggest names in the Division but who currently lie second from bottom.

Player Ratings:

Matt Gilks 7 Steady game for Gilko but was very rarely troubled

Jamie Clarke 8 Superb, not far off being man of the match for me.  Never put a foot wrong today, great full backery

Alan Goodall 7 Another impressive game for Galli.  Some excellent passing and looked solid.  Also gets forward very well

Tony Gallimore 7 Looked very good, adds so much to the squad in terms of experience and know-how

Jon Boardman 7 Looked slightly dodgy before their goal again but excellent after that

Scott Warner 8 Excellent today.  Battled all game and scored an absolute beauty!

Neil Brisco 7 Impressive from Brisco Inferno, he looked solid in a three man midfield.  Got stuck in well and his passing was good

Ernie Cooksey 7 Worked very hard and got involved in a lot of Dale moves

Blair Sturrock 7 Had no luck at all unfortunately but worked hard and was absolutely knackered by the end

RICKIE LAMBERT 8 Two more goals for Rickie, one another freekick and the other a tap in but he should have had a hatrick.  Excellent performance and my M.O.M

Grant Holt 7 Another game, another goal.  Six goals in seven games, class. 

Sub:  

Clive Moyo Modise 7 Looks very promising actually does young Moyo.  Has pace, trickery and makes some excellent runs

Tommy Jaszczun 7 Looked better coming off the bench.  Got stuck in and his passing looked good

Gary Brown 7 Got stuck in and caused a few problems down the right.  Looked immensely funny stood next to that Sako who was about 7 foot though!

Photo: Action Images

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