After two long trips south in recent weeks it was a much
shorter journey for Rochdale Supporters FC this time
round with a trip over the Pennines to near neighbours
Halifax in a big IFA clash between the teams sitting
second and third in the league table.
After a small discussion about the state of the pitch it
was decided that the game had to go ahead as the morning
sun would thaw it out nicely. It proved a good decision
as within minutes Dale had gone a goal up, Mark Woodall
finishing from 6 yards. It didn't take long for the lead
to be increased after good work from Liam Ratcliffe saw
him finish at the keepers inside post.
Halifax did have large spells of possession but Rochdale
always looked likely to catch them on the break and
David Heeley flew down the right wing and cut inside the
box at the by-line and was hacked down to result in a
spot kick. Ryan Higginbotham smashed the ball home as he
always does.
Just before half time Dale were caught out from their
own throw in, a quick ball down the right hand channel
was chased onto by the lone forward and he hit a
cracking first time volley across Coluccio in the
Rochdale goal and into the far corner.
Rob Flitcroft added a fourth soon into the second half,
the ball was squared across the box to him and he
finished confidently at the far post. Ratcliffe was then
unceremoniously chopped down inside the penalty box and
Higginbotham once again did the job from the spot.
Halifax did pull a goal back when a well taken free kick
was powered home by the head of the attacker. But this
was only a short rest for the Shaymen as Ratcliffe broke
away and twisted and turned in the box before he fired
Dale's 6th and his 2nd of the afternoon.
Flitcroft finished the business with a powerful shot
from outside the box and it was game over. This promised
to be a tough test against unknown opposition riding
high in the league but a good performance from Rochdale
saw them win their 13th consecutive league match to stay
well in touch at the top of the table.
