Dale started their preseason campaign with a defeat away at Conference North favourites AFC Fylde in a game in which almost every player got a run out.
The game was won by a second half penalty awarded after Tom Kennedy (I think) wrestled with one of the Fylde players. Seemed the right decision for me and Diba went the wrong way at the spot kick.
Five things from the game:
* We had two completely different teams out. The first half side was Lillis, Rafferty, Tanser, Lund, BBM, Bunney, Allen, Noble Lazarus, Vincenti, Henderson, Andrew. Second half was Diba, Cannon, Rose, Lancashire, Kennedy, Hasler-Cregg, McDermott, Camps, Hooper, Alessandra, Bell. Two different sides, and just the one recognised centre half.
* Stand out player on the day for me was Jamie Allen. Looking a touch like Joe Root, he ran the show in the first half. It's going to be a big season for the Dale trainee.
* Others that impressed included Jonny Diba who seemed to sprint five yards every time he got the ball before launching an attack, and young James Hooper who looked alright in his first run out with the first team.
* Couple of hundred Dale fans in the crowd of 380 at the most hidden football ground in the world. Parking was problematic as it was, so it must be a real issue when they're playing some of the bigger Conference North sides such as Stockport and FCUM.
* The second half was played to a background of music as they accidentally left the music playing as the game kicked off. Cue a man with a clipboard racing round the pitch to turn it on minutes after giving out the half times scores from some obscure European league. We were even treated to the theme from Happy Days on the way out.