Perhaps not the best advert ever for the beautiful game, but come what may, Dale took the spoils thanks to a Glenn Murray second half goal.

It was an even contest throughout though it was marred by an over fussy official who seemed intent on stopping the game at any opportunity much to the frustration of both sets of supporters. News broke before the game that Nathan Stanton was ruled out after picking up a hamstring problem in training, but on the positive Glenn Murray and John Doolan returned from their respective injury problems.

Rochdale started the game brightly enough and it was the home side defence who were the busier in the opening stages.Rochdale's John Doolan put in a decent strike after his jinking central run created the space for a shot, but Warrington was well placed to collect Doolan's effort with very little fuss.

Defences were without doubt on top for large parts of the half resulting in anything resembling a shot coming from 20-yards or more.It also meant that despite both sides trying to get the ball on the floor it spent most of it's time in the air. The closet we came to seeing a goal fell to the home side on 18 minutes after Andy Bishop steered a header past Matt Gilks only to see his effort rebound off the crossbar before hacked away to safety.

Just past the half hour mark Lee Crooks limped out of the game after picking up an injury and Mark Jackson stepped in to do an admirable job alongside the mature-beyond-his-years McArdle in the centre of defence. Just before the break Ben Muirhead crafted a chance after skipping down the channel and cutting in.The on loan Bradford City man drilled a low shot that Warrington did well to beat away at his near post.

The second half began with the visitors enjoying the best of the early possession though they failed to test the 'keeper after poor play in the final third. Dale gave the ball away far too cheaply with promising moves forward ended with mis-directed passes and wrong decisions.

Those moments could have cost Rochdale dear after former Dale player Andy Bishop got away down the left and blasted a low shot that Gilks did very well to push round the foot of his front post. Cheances were beginning to come and Ben Muirhead for Rochdale was next in line to try his luck.After coming inside from the right Muirhead got the space to put in a shot, but sadly it wasn't strong enough to trouble Warrington and he made an easy save on 57 minutes.

Nobody was settling for a point and Bury almost broke the deadlock from a corner delivered in from the right.Shaker Dave Challinor rose well to direct a header past Gilks, but Doolan bravely cleared off line before crashing into the upright. Dale manager Keith Hill looked for a way to win the points and duly change his formation with the introduction of Danny Reet for winger Ben Muirhead.
Almost from the moment the switch was made the first goal loomed large, though it was the home side that got the opportunity via a quick break as Dale re-jigged their positions.Following a break down the right, a deep cross was cut back by Buchanan but Bishop found his shot blocked by McArdle.

Glenn Murray broke the deadlock on 74 minutes after a good run by Alan Goodall. The left-back outwitted the Bury defence to get right into the heart of the area and was unlucky to see his low angled drive nudged away by the 'keeper.Thankfully Murray, nominated for Player-of-the-Month, was there to tap the ball home at the far post.

Keith Hill introduced Glenn Poole for Chris Dagnall not long after, reverting back to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation and it worked in keeping out the home side who were reduced in numbers after tempers began to boil over towards the end. Darren Kempson's afternoon came to an end with 83 minutes played after a foul on Reet and then a shove on Murray.After a consultation with his assistants and the fourth official a boxed set of cards was dished out including a red one for Kempson.

Three minutes later Glenn Murray almost wrapped it up after turning his marker well on the edge of the box before hammering a half-volley off the foot of the post. Danny Reet had enjoyed a little spell at Bury and certainly knew where the goals were as he drove a long range effort in. Sadly for Reet his effort flashed past Warrington and the wrong side of the post, but only just.

In time added on Kennedy had a great chance to level matters after he collected the ball centrally, but his side's hope of getting anything from the game fizzed away with a low shot wide of the target. 1848 Dale fans would probably agree that the result on the whole was a little harsh on Bury, but those same fans have been on the end of defeats when Rochdale have dominated and come away with nothing. It hurts like hell we know, but tonight Bragging rights and the three points are ours and we'll rejoice in that fact, sorry Bury.

As reported by the Official Rochdale Website