It's easy this football lark. You just turn up, win, then come home again with the three points tucked away in the bag. Well there's more to it than that, but Steve Parkin's boys are making things look very easy indeed this season, as they destroyed a side who were playing second division football up until last season, and have spent money on improving last season's team. They went into this match unbeaten and having not conceded a goal, which makes Dale's victory all the more impressive. Dale were simply awesome, and ran the show from start to finish giving the home side seldom opportunities to get into the match. This was only Steve Parkin's third match in charge, and many Dale fans were saying that this was the best Dale performance away from home in many, many years. This was no exaggeration.

York looked quite a decent side with what seems to be the right balance between experience and youth, with household names such as former Bolton and Leeds star Chris Fairclough and former Blackburn Premiership winner Mark Atkins in their ranks. Their forward line up of Conlon and Williams were very pacey and will cause lots of defences problems throughout the season. However, they were to be no match for Dale who simply outclassed them for the entire ninety minutes.

Dale started the match brilliantly and began to set up camp in the York side, playing the neat football that we are becoming used to under Steve Parkin. They passed the ball about effortlessly, and if anything they were over confident, and they were almost made to pay as a result. A long ball over the top to the speedy Williams put Dale's defence in jeopardy, as he was allowed to enter the box and shoot. Fortunately he fired the ball into the side netting, much to the surprise of the home fans who all thought he had scored. This was to be their last threatening chance of the match.

Following this, Dale stepped up a gear, and Dave Bayliss soon got the better of Williams. Despite the forward's speed advantage over Dale's longest serving player, Bayliss was never second best again and he performed brilliantly for the rest of the half.

Dale should have taken the lead within the opening half hour, but found themselves denied by the teenage keeper Howarth. Platt and Ford both had chances to put Dale one up, but Howarth was more than a match for them. Dale were very much on top, and you felt that a goal had to come sooner rather than later, if Dale were to take advantage of their dominance. It came via Graham Lancashire, who broke through the home side's offside trap, and found himself in acres of space. He took his time, and with the defenders catching him, he fired the ball confidently past the keeper to put Dale in the lead.

If you were expecting York to up the tempo a bit, you would have been severely disappointed, as the goal only added to Dale's dominance as it allowed the players to pass the ball around at will till the half time whistle.

The start of the second half saw no improvements by the home side despite a substitution. If anything it was Dale who had stepped up yet another gear and they went looking for the second killer goal. It came but it was preceded by a lovely flowing move by Dale involving over twenty passes, each cheered on by the large and vociferous away following. The move saw Dale press into the box down the right wing, though the final effort was deflected for a corner. The corner came in, and with Platt challenging, the home keeper appeared to knock the ball home himself, though Platt was definitely claiming it.

Minutes later it was three. Again another slick move saw the ball crossed into the box, though it was scrambled to the far side of the six yard box for Graeme Atkinson to poke the ball home to put Dale 3-0 up away from home for the first time in years.

The rest of the half was played out with Dale content to knock the ball about and soak up any pressure that the home side offered. So easy was it, that one rare York shot went directly to Edwards so timidly, he didn't even bother to use his hands. As the home fans swarmed out, Dale went back up the other end and could easily have made it four or even five. Boss Parkin took the opportunity to make three subs in the final few seconds, when he brought on Carden, Bruno and Jones for Ford, Lancashire and Flitcroft respectively.

This was a truly fantastic Dale performance and we were very good value indeed for all three points. Those present will tell you that Dale could have had five or six easily. Another pleasing aspect of the day, was the large Dale following which looked like it outnumbered the following at Cheltenham. Those who have seen Dale this season, have obviously been very impressed with what they have seen, and have come back for more, and are getting behind the side in the process. If you listen closely, you will hear people talking about promotion. A few more games like this, then we will be shouting it from the rooftops.

The only problem of the day was to pick a man of the match, as all the players were outstanding. Bayliss and Hill were supreme at the back, Bayliss especially in the first half. The midfield were totally dominant, and the attack never stopped running. At a push, I would give it to Jason Peake who's passing is better than it ever has been.

Dale: Edwards, Evans, Stokes, Bayliss, Hill, Ford (Carden), Flitcroft (Jones), Peake, Atkinson, Lancashire (Morris), Platt.
man of the match: Jason Peake.

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