Coca Cola League 2

GRANT Holt's excellent first-half strike wasn't enough to ensure a second successive win for Dale, as they were hit by a late sucker punch.

Steve Parkin's team - unchanged from the one which won at Grimsby seven days previously - bossed the opening 45 minutes and deservedly went ahead.

Holt, leading the line magnificently, turned quickly onto a Tony Gallimore throw-in and slotted a cool finish past Quakers' keeper Sam Russell.

But they lost their way - and Holt to injury - after the break and three minutes from time Darlington new boy Craig Hignett showed his class to out-jump Wayne Evans and plant a header past Neil Edwards.

Leo Bertos got the first sight of goal as Dale settled quickly on a grey afternoon, but he fired straight at Russell from 30 yards. Mark Convery followed suit at the other end.

From there on Dale dominated.

Bertos curled a shot wide after a rapid break by Gary Jones and Holt, before Gareth Griffiths just failed to steer Tony Gallimore's header inside the near post.

Holt's excellent strike, his fifth of the season, was a demonstration of quick-thinking and strength.

A throw-in on the left-hand side saw the striker turn quickly to elude three defenders and plant a shot wide of the advancing Russell.

Darlington regrouped and Hignett stung Edwards' palms with a free-kick.

Minutes before the break Neil Brisco and Daryl Burgess collided to give Jonathan Hutchinson a shooting chance, but he volleyed over from the edge of the box.

Holt showed Dale's intention to finish the job early in the second half when he volleyed high and wide from a tight angle.

Darlington lost Hutchinson minutes later after the centre-half had landed badly on his right knee.

Holt's unselfish chasing was rewarded on 57 minutes when he dispossessed substitute Matt Clarke and raced clear to square intelligently for the onrushing Brian Cash.

The youngster had the goal at his mercy,.

But he took a shocking first touch and Russell was able to smother the bobbling ball.

Dale seemed shaken by the miss and Holt hobbling off to be replaced by Paul Tait. They started to drop deeper into their own territory.

Hignett almost crept in onto a left-wing cross, but his header was deflected onto a post.

Leighton McGivern was sent on for Jamie Clarke and with his first touch hit a left-foot effort wide.

At the other end Craig Liddle thought he'd equalised but saw the headed effort chalked off for Brian Close's manhandling of Tait.

The game looked up for the visitors when, with 87 minutes gone, Liddle found some space inside the Dale half and sent over a perfect cross for Hignett to rise above the scrambling Evans and head firmly past Edwards.

It was hard on Parkin's men, but it may teach them a tough lesson. You have to take your chances.

Teams

ROCHDALE (4-5-1): N Edwards, W Evans, G Griffiths, D Burgess, T Gallimore, B Cash, N Brisco, J Clarke (L McGivern 81), G Jones, L Bertos (A Probets 68), G Holt (P Tait 59). Subs not used: M Gilks, A Goodall.

Man of the match: Grant Holt - simply awesome in his tricky role ploughing the lone furrow up front.

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): S Russell, R Valentine, J Hutchinson (M Clarke 51), C Liddle, C Fleming, M Convery (N Wainwright 65), B Close, C Keltie (N Maddison 79), I Clark, C Hignett, C Russell. Subs not used: J Kenrick, M Price.

Attendance: 2,616

Referee: Paul Melin (Surrey).

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