Well the public of Rochdale have finally declared the season to be over. Despite one of the most exciting games of the season on Saturday against Peterboro, just over 1500 turned up to see this match,.
Even with one side of the ground, and part of the Sandy closed off, the ground still looked empty. Obviously, we weren't helped by a minimal turn out from Devon where the Supporters and Players shared a National Express coach, but it does not excuse the poor showing from our own supporters. As I said, people have written this season off.
Furthermore, many of those who did turn up to watch this drab encounter were left saying much the same thing as Dale blew a golden opportunity to march up the league. This was a poor performance by Dale which showed none of the skill or character which lead to the 3-3 draw at Peterboro. Despite taking a lead early in the second half, Dale allowed the visitors back into the match, and they will think themselves unlucky not to have snatched all three points.
The first half was an absolute right off with little to write about. In fact the only thing of any note was the fact that Tony Ellis went off just before half time after picking up a minor knock, with Clive Platt coming on as his replacement. That was the one talking point of a half where neither goalkeeper was tested.
The second half was thankfully better than the first. Dale came out, obviously on the end of a verbal bashing from Steve Parkin who was videoed by a film crew in his dugout throughout the game. And within ten minutes, when it was starting to look like the game had nil-nil written all over it, Dale took the lead.
Dale had a free kick midway inside the Torquay half. The ball was played into the box, and a scramble ensued. The ball came out to Gary Jones on the edge of the box, and he drilled through the crowded box into the back of the net.
And from that moment, everything seemed to be going to plan. Dale were playing with a lot more confidence as a result of the goal, and it looked like everything was back to normal. Dale looked quite likely to grab a second and win the game comfortably.
However, just when things were looking up, everything came crashing down around us just ten minutes after taking the lead. Torquay were having a rare attack when Dave Bayliss slipped, allowing one of the Torquay players to cross the ball straight across the Dale box for Hill to have the simplest of tap ins to equalise for the visitors.
Dale had a couple of chances to regain the lead. One came from a block which rebounded goalwards beating both keeper Jones and the post. The second came from a neat move, which allowed Graham Lancashire to break clear of the resolute Torquay defence, before chipping the keeper, only to see Torquay defender Wayne Thomas to nip in and clear the ball.
Torquay had a chance to win the game as well. In a very similar move to the one which led to their goal, the ball was crossed over with Kevin Hill again moving in for the Gulls. The ball actually struck the post rebounding back allowing Edwards to recover.
Sean McClare and Chris Bettney were brought on in a bid to snatch the win, but it came to nothing. McClare looked lively, but suffered from a lack of pace of those around him.
Despite a spell of late pressure, the ref blew his whistle to end what was a disappointing match. A point was insufficient for both sides, and Dale are left with the unenviable task of needing five wins from their remaining seven matches if they are to reach the play offs for the first time. Not impossible, but unlikely, especially if Dale cannot improve on this performance in their remaining games against other teams in play off contention. But when a meagre 1500 turn up after the season we have had, you have to ask whether the town of Rochdale deserves a second division team.