There was the usual lack of entertainment at Spotland on Saturday afternoon, as we failed to cling on to the 0-0 draw that we wanted to, yet instead had to rely on two late goals to record a 4-3 win after trailing 3-1 at the break. Match report online soon.

The chant of "Easy" echoed round Spotland such was the comfort of the lead and few could argue. Unfortunately, that said chant came via the Shrewsbury fans on a number of occasions yet surprisingly not in the last fifteen minutes, when after leading 3-1, they fluffed it up. Or at least that was how the song went I think.

This was one of the great Spotland afternoons. Forget the fact that we were rubbish for the first half (and rubbish doesn't do it justice), that only played its part in one of the best Spotland comebacks seen in recent times. Indeed, the walk back home led to plenty of speculation of a better comeback. Answers on a postcard please.....

3-1 down at half time top 4-3 winners, and done with such style. This is what supporting Dale is all about. Had we been Chelsea supporters, we'd have been expecting such a comeback, we'd have walked away disappointed had we not. But we're Dale, and having never been spoilt by such footballing riches, to enjoy them now makes it so much sweeter. Today was a day to celebrate.

But at not at every stage during the game. It started badly, really badly, and the flashbacks to that game were all to clear to see. First minute or so of the game, and Shrewsbury scored with their very first attack. A cross came over and neither of our defenders were goal side and McMenemin nicked the ball home to put his side 1-0 up, as he beat Gary Brown to the ball.

But worry not, we've proved ourselves capable of coming back against anyone, especially teams near the Welsh border, and a couple of minutes later we were back on level terms. Jamie Tolley, promoted to the Shrews first team given the absence of Ernie Cooksey from our side, was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot. That same referee who was in charge of the 7-1 fixture. Seemed a harsh decision from a long way away. Anyway, up steps Holty and you know what the result was going to be.

But the flashbacks were becoming full on reminders, and you'd have thought we'd have been hallucinating as the Shrews regained the lead. With around ten minutes of the game gone, just like they did in 2001, the Shrews went 2-1 up. Again, you can put it down to poor marking. A corner came in, and it looked like Neil Brisco lost out to Gavin Cown who headed the ball into the back of the net at the Sandy Lane end of the ground. The easy chants returned.

But any hopes that this would spark us into action were dashed. We just simply played on as if nothing much had happened. Fair enough, the Shrews had scored from their only two attacks of the game, but our only effort had come from a debatable penalty. It wasn't easy playing football on a bobbly pitch but for whatever reason we just couldn't get to grips with the game.

And just as we were edging our way towards the toilets for the half time pee, discussing whether we could come back from 2-1 down, our task was made even more difficult as the Shrews increased their lead. Again, you have to question the marking which has been so effective throughout the rest of the season. Another cross, another unmarked striker and yet again, Gilks had no chance at all. You couldn't blame the Shrews fans at all for chanting "We want seven!".

But this is a different Dale. There may be a number of youngsters in this side, with all but three of the side being 24 or younger, but this side has heart in abundance. Fair enough, that heart might have stayed in the dressing room for the first half, but the days of Dale going behind automatically meaning a Dale defeat seem to be long gone.

Stirred on by some encouraging words from the manager at half time, where no doubt the first half was assessed in a calm and considered manner, the players came out ready to do battle. Indeed, the run out didn't do them justice for what they were going to serve up. Had they ran out in a style to do them justice, then they'd have been down that tunnel Gladiator style with swords and shields wielded in all directions, whilst screaming bluer murder at anyone within the M62 corridor. Or something like that.

So the second half starts, and Shrewsbury pay the cardinal sin. I know Grant Holt is the most difficult player in the league to play against, but surely teams must know that golden rule number one of playing against Rochdale is "Do not give away fouls on the edge of the box". You can have no sympathy with teams who make this mistake against us.

So up steps Lambert. You know the rest. But it was the Lambert of Chester rather than the Lambert of Cheltenham, Orient, Notts County, or Torquay, as he fired the ball low along the floor, narrowly beating England U-19 keeper Joe Hart. Just whereabouts does Lambert stand in terms of this country's great free kick takers?

And from then on, we are talking about the Alamo. Now I know the Alamo is an often used cliché in football reports, but from then on the Shrews were in so much danger of being killed off that the RSPCA were waiting in the club's offices. Lambert seemed to be on a one man mission to make up for his first half performance, and could have had a hat trick within ten minutes of the restart, hitting the woodwork twice - once from a shot, the other from a header, and Grant Holt proved that the ref wasn't entirely convinced about his first half penalty by being dragged down in the box to see the ref waving play on. Two cock ups don't make a right.

At this point the Shrews were for want of a better phrase, absolutely bricking it. We were having the entire match in their half, forcing what seemed like loads of corners, and the equaliser seemed a matter of time away. Such was our dominance, that the thoughts seemed to be about us getting a 4th rather than much more pressing third.

And then the unthinkable almost happened. The Shrews dared to come out from their corner and had an attack of their own and very nearly wrapped the game up. Jamie Tolley was put clear and with just Gilks to beat, he hit the far post with the ball bouncing off there at such a tight angle that the whole ground let out a girly whimper as it crawled back along the goal line.

But that brief cameo from the visitors was soon over, and it was back on with the game plan. That being Dale chucking everything at the Shrews in the remaining time. Even the plates and cups were being chucked along with that kitchen sink.

But it was starting to get a bit frustrating. With all the possession, it was starting to feel a little comfortable for the Shrews. The near misses from earlier in the half weren't quite as frequent and Salop were starting to gain a bit of confidence from the game. That was until Holty decided it was time to start scoring from open play again.

We had what felt like our 47th corner of the game, and for the first time, Grant Holt got on the end of Clarke's cross and his bullet header was in the back of the net before Hart had even thought about trying to save it. The finale was being set up.

And then came the magic. This past 24 hours have seen countless clips of George Best as the tributes have taken over our TV stations as the networks have quite rightly decided that Best is worth celebrating, and not whipping up a witch hunt. And our winning goal had so many shades of Georgie as a great bit of interplay by Rickie Lambert saw him put himself in the clear in the box.

With all the time in the world, he shimmied and shammied, and Best-like, he picked his spot after bamboozling Hart just because he could, and he sparked scenes of glory all around the glory. For one joyous moment, all the letters to the Ob, cat calls from the stand, and the poor first half performance was all forgotten as Spotland celebrated as one (except those who swiftly decided to depart the Willbutts to start that lovely journey down the A49 some ten minutes early). And for one moment, I swear I saw Parkin embrace those behind him in the Main Stand as a calm sense of victory descended over the ground. Fair enough, I wasn't looking over there as like everyone else I was jumping up and down like a mad man, but I am sure that is what could have happened. Probably.

The ghost of 7-1 was vanquished yet again, and the healing process continues, but with time running out, the referee got a bit picky. Gary Brown picked up two yellows in quick succession, both of which he could have got away with most weeks, and we were forced to sit out the last ten minutes with just ten men. But there was no worry, there was no panic, there was just this overriding feeling of pride, safe in the knowledge that the win was safe, and that we had been lucky enough to witness one of those games that will be talked about for years to come.

In the calm light of day, there's clearly plenty still to work upon during training, as this was far from the perfect performance. But stuff that, this was about the comeback, this was about the refusal to surrender and this was about Dale version 2005-6. We're up there and we're fighting every step of the way. And you'd better believe it!

Photo: Action Images

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