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Derby day doldrums

30/ 9/2002

SOCCER: Rochdale 3 Macclesfield 1

Two-goal Paul Connor kept Dale's promotion drive rolling ... but Macc will be wondering how they lost a highly entertaining derby clash.

The Silkmen dominated the first half, with on-loan Stockport loan signing Andy Welsh running riot down the wing.

With Kyle Lightbourne missing two great chances and Danny Whittaker hitting the post from a free kick, it was something of a shock when Dale took the lead on 21 minutes.

Connor supplied the finish after big Clive Platt had used his muscle to touch on a Paul Simpson free kick - but the lead only lasted 13 minutes.

Macc finally found the end product which their pressure deserved when persistent play by Matt Tipton on the left ended with the striker firing across the face of goal - where Welsh ghosted in to smash home from close range.

The second half began in the same manner, but when Macc ran out of steam, Dale were waiting.

Simpson's finesse from set pieces proved decisive, as he fired one 25-yard free kick against a post and then another against the bar - the latter rebounded to substitute Lee Hodges, on the field for just a few seconds, and his ball to the near post was met by Connor.

Deflated Macc conceded another, and it was a cracker.

Matt Doughty and Connor wall-passed their way down the left flank and then played in Platt who delicately danced round the final defender and fired in the third.

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