AFTER-MATCH opinion among Dale supporters was split.

There were those happy with a draw, and those who felt it was an extension of Daleés not so good start to the season.

My own opinion is that we should be thankful for small mercies, or large mercies as they may yet prove towards the end of the campaign, as Dale at least claimed their first league goal of the season and got off the mark points-wise.

I will not subscribe to the views of some pundits that Accrington were on top throughout, as Dale looked good enough, if not brilliantly, to claim a win until the last 20 or so minutes when they tended to drop too deep for comfort and Accrington introduced a bit more pace and width with the introduction of Sean Doherty.

Okay, in those final 20 minutes Accrington were on top, and Daleés defence took a bit of a battering, but it was only a penalty which gave Stanley an equaliser, mainly due to good work by Daleés back four and goalkeeper Matt Gilks.

Dale do have their faults, we all know that, but if manager Steve Parkin can manage to come up with more in midfield and a bit of extra fire-power up front then there is still every chance of this turning into a decent season.

The return from injury of Gary Jones could help solve a problem in midfield, and a fully fit Rickie Lambert could provide the fire power.

Lambert returned from injury on Saturday but didnét look match fit, although his very presence on the field worried Accrington into marking him with, at times, three defenders.

Also back was defender Mark Jackson who, along with Nathan Stanton, Simon Ramsden and Alan Goodall provided a pretty solid barrier which Acrington had trouble breaching.

Parkin admitted after-match that it had been a bit of a gamble playing the two. To an extent the gamble paid off.

Having said that, the gamble could have backfired had Accrington taken an early lead. It was only the brilliance of Gilks that stopped them doing that.

The keeper pushed away a header from Paul Mullin who had met a right-wing cross.

James Harris followed up with a shot over the bar, then Romauld Boco fired wide on the turn.

In addition to these efforts Accrington had several corners, but none of them hurt Dale, and on 17 minutes Dale took the lead.

Lee Crooks knocked a left-sided freekick into the area and Chris Dagnall slid in to score after home goalkeeper and defenders had played statues.

John Doolan was almost in on a long curling ball into the area, but keeper Ian Dunbavin took the ball off his toes, while at the other end Goodall cleared off the line from Michael Welch.

For all their huffing and puffing in the second half Accrington didnét look really dangerous until Doherty joined the fray on the left and the largely innefectual Gary Roberts moved inside, although Stanley were helped to an extent by Dale dropping far too deep at times.

Stanley levelled on 77 minutes when Roberts went down under challenge from Doolan and then converted the penalty. Dale could have no complaints about the award, as it did look as though another penalty challenge had been committeed just before Doolanés challlenge.

With four minutes of normal time left Gilks made a great save to deny Welch. A follow up shot was knocked home by Mullin, but the ball had been pushed forward to him in an offside position and a flag was up.

Goodall was on the line to halt a goalbound effort from Boco on 90 minutes, and in time added on almost every Dale supporter behind the goal and most of the Dale players in attack went up in an appeal for a penalty for handball.

Yours truly couldnét see the incident (Arsene Wenger eat your heart out) as two large ladies had wobbled down an aisle blocking my vision, as had happened previously.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Ian Dunbavin, Peter Cavanagh, Leam Richardson, Robert Williams, Michael Welch, Ian Craney, Andrew Todd (Sean Doherty 67m), James Harris (Andrew Mangan 46m), Romauld Boco, Paul Mullin, Gary Roberts. Subs not used: Philip Edwards, Julien N'da, Andrew Procter.

ROCHDALE: Matthew Gilks, Simon Ramsden, Alan Goodall, Mark Jackson, Nathan Stanton, Darrell Clarke (Iyseden Christie 67m), Lee Crooks, John Doolan, Ernie Cooksey, Chris Dagnall, Rickie Lambert (Clive Moyo-Modise 87m). Subs not used: Sako, Adam Rundle, Jon Boardman. Dale man of the match: Matthew Gilks made some good saves, Nathan Stanton was sound in defence, but the award goes to Stanton's defensive partner Mark Jackson who never put a foot wrong on his return from injury.

Referee: Mr AM Penn.

Attendance: 3045.