For the second game on the trot, Keith Hill put out an understrength Dale team, and again they recorded a favourable result and could consider themselves unfortunate not to come away with a win.

The biggest surprise was the side that was put out. It had been assumed in certain quarters that we'd be putting out a full team in the last game of preparation before the opener with Posh next week. But whether it was to keep our cards close to our chest or whether the first team had played another friendly on Friday, the side we put out was missing many of the players that had secured us promotion last season.

We started with Diba, Rafferty, Eastham, McGinty, Rose, Bennett, Allen, Fox, Hery, Vincenti and Donnelly. Out of that, there was only Rafferty, Allen and Hery who could claim to be playing in a position they'll be playing next Saturday as we went with fringe players and players out of position. If Fergie jnr was watching this, he'll be stumped again.

Our friends at the JD put out what appeared to be a full strength side, with the only notable absentee being Andrew Tutte which makes you wonder whether the agreement from last season was out of necessity. Maybe I read too much into stuff. With the weather doing everything it wanted, the sides became the first teams to run out to the Clash since White Riot used to ring out at the Vetch Field.

The first half was an odd affair. Some of our football at times was wonderful, but we looked decidedly dodgy at the back, and within seconds of the kick off, it looked like we might be in for a torrid afternoon as went behind.

With the flags in the South Stand doing their best Accy / Fifa 98 impression, Ashley Eastham turned an innocuous cross into his own net much to the delight of the home supporters. A hammering at the hands of our nearest and dearest was not going to be the ideal preparation for League One.

But we came back well, and had the bulk of the possession and our equaliser came on the back of a three minute period where it was debatable whether the home side touched the ball. With Hery in particular threatening to become a major part of Keith Hill's team, we played the sort of possession football that we've grown accustomed to under Hilly. We knocked it around for fun, and eventually Rhys Bennett fired home.

But as the rain held off as half time approached, the home side took control of the game and scored two quick goals. We could probably have been quite happy with our efforts had it gone in at 1-1 but poor defending against two strikers who don't need any favours at the best of times allowed the Shakers to in 3-1 up.

In fairness, you'd have thought that Lills would have done better with both efforts had he been playing, but we should not have allowed the shots to be made in the first place, and the starting berth alongside Lancashire remains up for grabs.

Half time brought two changes for Dale, with Donnelly and McGinty withdrawn with no arguments at all from four hundred plus in the away end. Trialist Adam Morgan was given another go up front, with BBM slotting in as a member of the back four.

The changes made a difference and it wouldn't be unfair to say that we controlled the second half. The Shakers only had one real chance in the second half when a lovely passing move saw former Daley Nicky Adams one on one with our sixteen year old keeper, but Johnny Diba saved well at his feet.

But the second half was generally just proof of what save hands we are in as a club. We had a succession of youth team players come off the bench, and whilst some of them looked young enough to receive pocket money rather than wages, they did fantastically well, and whilst this may have been their first run out in the "first team", they were all well versed in the Keith Hill way. Of course, in games like this the scoreline is often irrelevant, but even defeat would have left us with so much to be confident about for the future. Especially when some of these young lads are a couple of years away from even knocking on the door of the first team.

We had an emotional moment when another former Daley came off the bench for Bury. Joe Thompson made his first run out since his battle with cancer last season, and pretty much the entire away end stood to applaud him and sing his name. Once a Daley.....

A year ago, the likes of Allen, Hery and Hogan were just young lads who might get a place on the bench. Now, we have the likes of Cannon, Logan, Hasler Cregg and Kisemba Kisemba in the same position. Arguably Cannon is showing more promise than Allen was at the same stage of his career.

Anyway, the influx of the kids proved to be the difference between the two sides, and against their more experienced and significantly better paid opposition, they ran the show and by the final whistle, the League Two favourites were on the ropes.

Our second goal came via a corner, and whilst most attention was on McNulty's attempt to grapple Vincenti, Joel Logan got his head on the end of Rose's corner and looped it into the back of the net, with one defender ensconcing himself in the netting in a desperate attempt to keep it out.

We thought we'd grabbed an equaliser with a neat passing move saw trialist Morgan slide it past the keeper but the linesman's flag ruled out it out for offside in what looked a close call.

But with time running out, the equaliser came. A Michael Rose free kick was parried by the Bury keeper, rebounding to Logan, who steadied himself, before putting the ball onto his right foot and knocking it home.

There wasn't enough time left to try and win it, but the final whistle brought much applause for an outstanding effort by the young Dale side where we had ten players who were 20 years old or younger throughout the afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

geraldo added 09:39 - Aug 3 I don't understand the point of playing such a weakened team, with an even weaker bench. If Fergie junior was watching he would have known that this was not Dale's first team!! We cannot continue with Donnelly if we are to be a credible Lge 1 side, and Morgan looked way off the pace - it also proved to me that BBM's playing days are over.We MUST spend to get a decent striker and another centre back.What's the point of having the £700k in the bank and going straight back down??

0

TVOS1907 added 22:14 - Aug 3 Some on Mong Central don't seem to understand the bit about ten players under 20. It's not rocket science.
0

geraldo added 13:58 - Aug 4 If TVOS1907 is referring to me then he is the one missing the point.The time for trying out kids is not the last match before the season starts - surely the match v Bury was the time to give his first choice starting 11 a game. As for youngsters, I would sooner have a 30+ proven striker like Lowe or Nardiello than a Joel Logan or heaven forbid George Donnelly!
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Middlesbrough Polls