Rochdale 2 (Dagnall 25, 75) Torquay 1 (Hargreaves 90)

Photo: Daniel Youngs

The celebrations continue as Dagnall's second secures the three points for Dale.

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Rochdale beat Torquay at Spotland thanks to Chris Dagnall's brace.

The striker pounced midway through the first half after Michael Poke could only parry Will Buckley's shot and with fifteen minutes left, Chris Hargeaves fell in the Torquay box to allow Dagnall all the time in the world to score a second.

Dale laid seige to the visitor's goal throughout the first half and Dagnall, Chris O'Grady, and Joe Thompson all had chances to add to their advantage. The second half was a much quieter affair but Dagnall's goal confirmed victory. Torquay offered nothing all game but their fans had an injury time goal to cheer when Hargreaves turned in Marvin Williams' mishit shot.

Dale got into their stride early on in the first half and Chris O'Grady in particular caused problems for the Torquay defence. A sharp interchange with Will Buckley enabled to striker to nod a near post cross towards goal, with Michael Poke forced to turn the ball behind. A flash shot across goal from O'Grady emphasised his and Dale's bright start to proceedings.

Dale were bright and busy in and around the Torquay box and when Chris Dagnall was tripped by a combination of defenders the striker claimed a penalty. The referee adjudged the foul to take place right on the edge of the box and Dale wasted the free kick.

The home side survived a scare when Elliott Benyon turned in a loose ball, only for a delayed linesman's flag to appear, and Dale continued to push on. Jason Kennedy exchanged passes with Dagnall to go clear into the Torquay box. The midfielder took the ball wide but his shot across goal only just missed the far post.

On 25 minutes Dale were ahead. Dagnall drove down the right flank before spreading the play for Buckley on the opposite flank. The young winger beat two men with ease to enter the box. Buckley's low shot across goal was saved well by Poke but he was helpless as Dagnall put in the rebound.

The Torquay goal was leading a charmed life as Dale sought a second before half time. O'Grady drilled another shot come cross along the six yard box inches away from Dagnall and then Dagnall himself could have doubled his tally as he bought a yard and drilled a shot over the top.

In injury time at the end of the half Tom Kennedy's low cross fell for Joe Thompson, who blazed over at the back post.

The two sides made a steady start to the second half without making much headway, with Dale unable to carve Torquay open with the ease in which they had in the first. The game was 70 minutes old before the home side created another clear cut chance as Gary Jones played in Dagnall, who was pressured under shooting and could only fire at Poke.

For all that Torquay were more in the game in the second half, Kenny Arthur remained a virtual spectator in the Dale goal, and with Torquay shortened at the back by the blooded nose of Chris Robertson, the home side finally doubled their lead. Chris Hargreaves was forced to fill in at centre half and he made an awful mistake as he fell in front of Dagnall in the box, allowing the striker the freedom of the town to score his second.

Frustration crept into Torquay's game as they started taking potshots at the Dale goal from forty yards and still Arthur hadn't been made to save all afternoon.

Dagnall could have had his hat-trick late on as O'Grady released him with only one man to beat but the ball was caught up under Dagnall's feet and in the end he could only run it into the hands of Poke.

Torquay finally had something to shout about in injury time when Hargreaves turned in Marvin Williams shot but it was only a consolation as Dale didn't panic in the remaining two minutes, holding out comfortably for a deserved three points.

Attendance: 2407.

Rochdale: Arthur, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson, Thompson, Jones, J. Kennedy, Buckley (Rundle 73), O'Grady, Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Edwards, Flynn, Spencer, Stevens, Higginbotham, Brown.

Torquay: Poke, Nicholson, Robertson, Todd, Hodges (Williams 45), Carlisle, Wroe, Thompson, Stevens (Carayol 49), Benyon (Hargreaves 60), Rendell.
Subs (not used): Brough, Silis, Bevan, Joyce.

Booked: Robertson, Williams.

Attempts (on target): Rochdale 8 (4) Torquay 6 (1)
Free kicks: Rochdale 11 Torquay 9
Offside: Rochdale 3 Torquay 1
Corners: Rochdale 7 Torquay 2

Referee: P Quinn.