TWO goals from Jim McCluskie seemed to have put United on the road to another victory, but they finished up hanging on desperately to a vital point.

The visitors got off to a dream start when McCluskie toe-poked home from the six-yard box a cross from Craig Sargeson after just five minutes.

On 22 minutes the big target man bundled the home keeper over the line but only succeeded in getting a ticking off from the referee.

Late in the first period, John Borland was awarded a free kick after a clash with the home keeper, but the resultant free kick came to nothing.

Nine minutes into the second half McCluskie again found the net from a corner, however, his effort was adjudged to be offside.

But on the hour, the persistant McCluskie doubled his side's lead with a great finish from another Sargeson cross.

It was on-loan Accrington Stanley player Stuart Diggle who spoiled the party by pulling a goal back with a stunning strike on 75 minutes.

And just five minutes later the home side had levelled after Diggle successfully converted from the penalty spot.

By the end, Dale were the team doing the defending and must thank keeper Andrews who pulled off one particularly fine fingertip save near the end.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.