Bloody hell, it's stressful stuff watching Dale. It's even worse when all you can do is watch teletext and listen to GMR talking about some amateurish rugby league division that doesn't start till the new year and with more players than supporters. But that was the case for this one, as I never went. Boss wouldn't let me have the time off. Anyway my match report goes like this:

time
8pm. Teletext tuned to P311, and GMR on in background.
8:01 It comes up Brighton 0 Dale 1. You beauties!!!!!!!!!! Dave Bayliss!!!!
8:01 and a half. On the phone celebrating, saying an early goal is just what we have needed all season, and we will go on to hammer. One thing about Dale is that we don' concede leads
8:05 GMR report Dale 1-0 up. Supposedly we are all over them and could have been 2 or 3 up
8:31 GMR get there first as Mike Brookes reports that Dale have got a deserved second goal. YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! We're gonna win the league! No way will Dale blow a 2 goal lead. No chance
8:40 Teletext reports Brighton have pulled a goal back.
8:45 GMR report this goal and say it is down to a mistake by Edwards. Brighton's first shot on target. Whilst reporting this, Brighton equalise. Aaargh!
8:46-9:00 Spend watching teletext. Don't know what I was expecting to happen, as it was half time.
times are approximate after this after the Stella started kicking in
9:10ish Back to Withdean, and whilst reporting Brighton score again, but it was disallowed
9:20ish GMR report that Brighton have gone 3-2 up
9:21 - 9:40ish. Much swearing and sticking two fingers up at teletext
9:45ish GMR report that the boy CLIVE PLATTINI has grabbed an equaliser. Start running round my flat celebrating. Time for another Stella. From now on GMR give full commentary, having obviously decided that Dale commentary is better than Ice Hockey, non league footy, Rugby League, chess, tiddlywinks and toe wrestling.
9:48 Dale almost score from a corner. Mike Brookes' voice goes up several octaves.
9:50 The boy PLATTINI does it again. Went mental. went mental again. Then went mental for a third time. God knows what the people in the flat downstairs thought. Time for another Stella.
It's definitely worse on the old nervous system following Dale on the radio and teletext.

Brighton 3 Dale 4
from OOHARRY

Dale made a successful debut at the Withdean stadium in one of the most incident packed games of recent years. The stadium only had two stands, neither behind a goal giving the ground a very odd vibe, a pre match interview with ex-Brighton player Gary Stevens only served to enhance it.
The weather was poor with torrential rain before the match making for a greasy surface, which was to provide plenty of entertainment. The match couldn't have started any better for Dale. After only two minutes Dave Bayliss slotted home from just inside the box, after Dale's first corner wasn't cleared properly. This pre emptied a great half hour for the visitors when they should have scored at least three. Platt headed back across goal when it looked easier to score, Ellis ballooned an effort high and wide with the only the home keeper to beat, and Platt had an effort just over the bar after a good run. Dale got their reward for the spell of pressure in 32nd minute when poor defending allowed Ellis possession on the edge of the box, his crossed picked out the run of Atkinson who headed coolly home to put Dale firmly in control.

The home fans didn't get behind their team early on and were now getting restless, indeed it seemed plenty had had enough and were on the way home after only a third of the game, those who did leave missed a spirited revival by their side. The home team had looked devoid of attacking ideas prior to a Christmas gift from a most unlikely source. Painful as it is to report, Neil Edwards gifted Brighton a lifeline with a untimely error five minutes before the break. Seemingly under no pressure after collecting a cross, the ball squirmed from his grasp giving veteran-home striker Warren Aspinall with the simplest of chances.

The unexpected goal boosted Brighton, and their fans and they pressed forward looking for an equaliser. The home teamed forced a few corners, the last of which provided their second goal. Ex-Brentford man (but then so are half the Brighton side) Danny Cullip found space at their near post and comfortably headed home. Dale were visibly rocked, and half time couldn't come soon enough.

The rain continued throughout the break and into the second half worsening the already greasy conditions. When the teams reappeared it was Brighton who looked the sharper, but the Dale goal was seldom under real threat until 56 minutes. A decent cross-field ball picked out Hart who showed admiral pace, skill and composure before beating Edwards at the near post. The home fans were in great voice - a classic case of sing when your winning - and more goals seemed certain.

Dale were reeling now, looking a shadow of the side which had dominated earlier. It seemed almost certain the game was up as the pressure mounted on their goal, a lack of organisation at the back gave Ramsay (the only Forward in the box) time and space from six yards to head home with four Dale defenders chasing shadows. Inexplicably he headed wide, and this proved a turning point. Bettney replaced Peake who wasn't at his best against his old club, and the winger looked lively at times down the right wing. Graeme Lancashire replaced the disappointing Ellis and Dale began to look more composed. Decent possession followed but an all-to-familiar scenario of good ball in dangerous areas but no penetration ensued.

Just when it looked as if there was no way through Clive Platt equalised. A long ball in from the right towards Platt was met with a looping header which spun over the poorly-positioned keeper after spending an eternity in the air. The respectable gathering of away fans duly found their voices and prepared for a grandstand finish.

The game was finely poised but Dale were back in their stride and pressed forward. A few half chances led to a couple of corners, one of which fell to Atkinson on the left wing, he delivered an inviting cross and Platt nipped in at the near post to head home Dale's FOURTH goal of the game. Unbelievable.

Ford replaced Atkinson as Dale defended their lead through the last five minutes. The points looked safe until the first minute of injury time when Brighton sub Danny Davis found room at the far post, just as it seemed he was sure to score Keith Hill produced a fine challenge to just do enough put him off. Just before the end Dale broke out of defence in numbers, a flowing move gave Flitcroft a great chance to seal the win and surpass our total home goals this season in one game, but his shot lacked power and accuracy and was easily saved, a simple ball to the unmarked Lancashire at the back post would surely have seen a goal.

The final whistle brought jubilant scenes in the away end, with Taffy throwing his shirt and gloves into the crowd. Plenty of positives can be taken form this performance, the unbeaten run continues, Platt got goals to aid confidence and Lancashire looks to be on his way back, but above all the team showed tremendous battling qualities to come from a goal down after leading 2-0. Make no mistake, this was right up the with 1-0 win at Rotherham.

Dale : Edwards, Evans, Searle, Hill, Bayliss, Peake (Bettney), Jones, Flitcroft, Platt, Ellis
(Lancashire), Atkinson (Ford)

My man of the match - Hard to pick a star out of a great team performance, but Atkinson once again proved he'll take a chance when given one and supplied plenty of good crosses.



Brighton 3 - 4 Rochdale
From Anthony - Dale fan in Redhill

After viewing the most incredible match I have seen for some years and with only 2 fingernails left of any note, I have pulled out my rain soaked notes and made an attempt of a match report.

Dale started brightly and forced an early corner following good work from Jones and Atkinson. The resulting corner was finished by a hooked shot from Dave Bayliss from about 12 yards - this after just 69 seconds! One goal was not enough as Dale pressed forward, Clive Platt having a couple of good chances and Ellis missing a sitter when he was clean through against the keeper. Ellis chipped the keeper, the bar and the athletics track behind the goal.

With all our dominance it was a matter of time before the second goal came. Ellis redeemed himself by supplying a good cross following a terrible defensive error by a very shaky Brighton defence. Atkinson arrived six yards out and gave the keeper no chance with the header 2-0.

Suddenly Brighton started playing football and began to force corner after corner. Dale found it difficult to defend the set plays and looked very vulnerable, the driving rain and swirling wind playing a major part. On 40 minutes, another corner flew over which Edwards dropped in the area, leaving Aspinall the easiest tap in.

Everything changed, Brighton forced another corner and then another goal, again a defensive error allowed a free header for the equaliser right on half time. The meanest defence in the league was rattled.

The second half started quietly, you had the feeling one goal in this half would be enough. Peake lost the ball in midfield and it was put through for Gary Hart to run on to and score, 3-2 Brighton after 56 minutes. Bollocks! How can we have blown this!! Peake came off just after the hour and was replaced by Bettney who was lively. Jones and Flitcroft started controlling the middle of the park giving Dale most of the possession. Unlike the first half, chances where limited, defenders on both sides adapting to the appalling conditions.

With 8 minutes remaining and Dale still pushing, Clive Platt sent a looping header in off the post to equalise. After this, everything just became too much to believe. Dale continued to press, not content with a draw. The magic moment came in the last minute when Platt scored again. 4-3 to Dale! With Dale fans flying everywhere it was hard to see how it went in, but no one cared. We hung on to win!
Team: Edwards, Evans, Searle, Bayliss, Hill, Flitcroft, Jones, Peake (Bettney), Atkinson (Ford), Platt, Ellis (Lancashire)
MOM: Clive Platt - 2 great goals and great perseverance

Dale fan Stuart's report

Wow - what a night, crap weather, crap ground!!
Take my seat and I'm straight out of it as we go one-nil up. We spend most of the half dominating, and my mate says we'll see nothing up this end next half. Then its 2-0!!!. Could be 4 the way we're playing. The rain gets the better of Neil and he drops the ball, and then minutes later 2-2. The joys of being a Dale fan. Half-time coffee and Bacon sarnie (all praise to the girls in the hut, who even went out in the rain to get us more plastic cups).
Second half, BHA start to dominate, and we go a goal behind. Suddenly their fans start singing that we're not very good (correct at the time).
Last 10 mins - Platty gets a goal, then another, 3 mins of added time, Brighton press, get 2 quick corners, final whistle!!!!
Now who's not very good!!!
Train ride home smirking all the way. Run to pub for last orders and to take the piss out of BHA fans who didn't go 'cos a bit of rain.
Great night and I was there!!! 

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