People often talk about they always remembered where they were when they heard Elvis had died or when England won the world cup or when John F. Kennedy got shot.
People often talk about they always remembered where they were when they heard Elvis had died or when England won the world cup or when John F. Kennedy got shot. Well in years to come people will ask "Where were you when Mark Bailey scored?" after waiting almost 2 years for this day to come.
Dale beat a poor Shrewsbury by the only goal which came about halfway through the first half. Shrewsbury looked to be a very poor side and look set for a battle at the bottom of the division. Their only ideas were long balls to the very tall Devon White up front for him to deal with. The Dale defenders had very few problems with him and rarely looked like conceding a goal. White had one chance early in the match when he struck the outside of the post when it looked easier to score. Dale face another tall striker next week, in Scunny's John Gayle so this was ideal preparation.
The goal came about with a good passing move from the Dale team. Stuart got the ball in the centre circle pushing it out wide to Ian Bryson. He cut the ball across to Izzy who knocked it back into the danger zone for Bailey to head a low ball home into the net. Bailey's reaction was understandable given he has had a bigger drought than Ethiopia in front of goal. He celebrated like he had won the world cup as he started kissing his badge and shouting with his arms aloft. He was still celebrating by the time he got back into his own half.
The rest of the game was fairly dull stuff, as Dale were easily in control and never looking like letting the Shrews back into the match. They were restricted to long range efforts, which Neil Edwards saved with ease.
Dale had a couple of other chances in the match. Robbie headed wide just a couple of minutes after Bailey scored and hit the advertising boards on the top of the Sandy Lane in the second half from just four or five yards out.
The final whistle came and Dale were pleased to get that first home win moving up five places in the table in the process. Graham Barrow stated in the local press before the game that a 1-0 win would suffice today and the win was more important than style. He got exactly what he asked for!
If Dale had played like they had at Brentford against the Shrews we would have been chalking up a Rugby score.
Goalscorer Mark Bailey got carried off in the second half and Gary Jones was brought to replace him. Perhaps, he injured himself in his goal celebration.
Dale : Edwards, Bayliss, Stokes, Farrell, Hill, Monington, Diaz, Painter, Bailey (Jones), Bryson, Stuart. Subs not used Sparrow, Gray