Halifax Town v Rochdale, 28 August 2000

As much as Halifax might wish they could turn the clock back and start the new season all over again, Rochdale continued to go from strength to strength. In this 133rd Pennine derby, Dale tabled their second win of the Bank Holiday weekend after taking only one point from their opening two games. Clive Platt's early strike soon had Town on the back foot when the big striker planted his header wide of Tony Parks. The Shaymen levelled with Mark Bradshaw's second goal of the term. The ex-Blackpool defender placed a left foot volley past Neil Edwards. Halifax new boy Gary Jones was still striving for his first goal, but it was to be his Dale namesake who settled the issue with a 25 yard drive. The home team's brittle confidence was shattered as a result and the afternoon's entertainment was concluded with terrace chants for manager Mark Lillis' dismissal.