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Rochdale 1 Stockport County 2

Simon Smedley
7/11/2007

LIAM Dickinson bagged two well-taken goals to fire County to what was, in the end, a deserved victory at local rivals Rochdale.

Dickinson, who was handed a start after Adam Proudlock reported ill ahead of the game, netted his fourth and fifth goals of the season.

In the absence of Ashley Williams, County boss Jim Gannon turned to Matty McNeil to partner Gareth Owen in central defence, and it was the visiting back-line who had to withstand early pressure.

Old boy Adam Le Fondre had a goal ruled out for offside, then ‘keeper Conrad Logan acrobatically tipped a Tom Kennedy free-kick onto the crossbar.

Logan then got down well to save Gary Jones’ low drive, but against the run of play, it was the Hatters who took the lead with their first meaningful effort on 28 minutes.

Adam Griffin jetted to the ‘Dale byeline, before pulling the ball back for Dickinson who rifled home past James Spencer from eight yards.

County were buoyed by their goal, and Anthony Elding and Owen were denied in quick succession at the near post, but the lead remained at 1-0 at the interval.

Just eight minutes after the restart County doubled their lead with a neat setpiece goal.

Paul Tierney swung in a free-kick from the left, and there was Dickinson who rose well and guided a header into the far corner.

It was now looking rosy for Gannon’s men, but Rochdale did respond as Glenn Murray saw a shot and a header saved by Logan, and Kallum Higginbotham blazed a shot wildly over from eight yards.

‘Dale grabbed themselves a real lifeline on 68 minutes when Le Fondre slotted home a spot-kick after Jason Taylor’s handball, but there was surprisingly little further threat and County picked up a very useful three points.

COUNTY: Logan, Taylor, Owen, Elding (Briggs, 45), McNeil, Griffin, Pilkington (Rose, 77), Tierney, Dickinson (Bowler, 87), Turnbull, Smith. Subs not used: Tunnicliffe, Tansey.

COUNTY goalkeeper Chris Adamson, who joined the club in the summer but has still to make a first-team start in league or cup, has handed in a transfer request.