County maintained their promotion form with a comprehensive win over near neighbours, Rochdale as they complete their second double of the season. They had to do it however without Liam Dickinson who came off after just 5 minutes.
Mark Hughes went straight into the team following his arrival from Everton on Friday, meanwhile fellow new signing David Beharall slotted into the right back position vacated by Rob Clare who dropped to the bench.
Keith Briggs regained the captains armband from Matt Hamshaw who dropped to the bench. There was a welcome return for Danny Boshell who returned from injury and again went into Jim's starting eleven.
Craig Duncan was recalled to the bench in the place of Christopher Howarth who returned to the Reebok following his month long stay.
The Dale included former County men, Rickie Lambert and Lee Cartwright as well as new signings Iyseden Christie, John Doolan and Chris Dagnall, who made his debut against County last month.
Despite some early Rochdale pressure it was County who created the best effort when Adam Griffin went on a trade mark run, but his good low cross into the box was well cleared by the Dale defence.
Griffin was again involved in another County effort on the 20 minute mark when he found Tes in space and the big striker flicked on for Boshell whose curling shot from 18 yards went agonisingly close.
There was a moment of panic at the other end of the pitch just seconds later when County struggled to clear a loose ball following an indirect free kick, it wasn't until the ball rebounded off a Dale defender that County were safe.
A good run from Hamshaw following a long ball from Ashley Williams saw his shot go just over. However County had the lead seconds later when an effort from Danny Boshell just inside the area curled beyond the despairing Gilks.
The Edgeley Park crowd couldn't quite believe their luck when on 32, County doubled their lead when the scorer of the last goal Danny Boshell found his former Oldham team mate, Adam Griffin to send the home fans into raptuous applause.
Rochdale tried a few speculative efforts before Tes Bramble nearly put the game out of reach with a header that went just wide of the post.
Chris Dagnall produced Dale's best effort when he shot from inside the area, and it took James Spencer to be on top of his game to keep the score to 2-0.
Tes Bramble again had an effort that deceived the Edgeley Park faithful and although at first glance it seemed to be heading for goal, it went just wide.
Second Half
A trademark Rickie Lambert free kick on the 55th minutes, that went just wide marked the best effort of the opening ten minutes of the second half of what was to be a fierce contest between two sides battling for quite different reasons.
Rochdale started to slowly get into the game as first Doolan and then Jones went agonisingly close.
At the other end a good ball from Boshell found Griffin in space and the Oldham man crossed for Bramble whose attempt was well dealt with Gilks in the opposing goal.
Keith Briggs capped off a wonderful individual performance when he rounded Gilks with just 2 minutes to go to send the home fans delirious and put paid to the home fans nerves.
Ironically this wasn't County's best performance but they treated their wonderful supportors to the best Valentines present possible.
County: Spencer, Beharall, Robinson, Hughes, Williams, Briggs, Boshell, Wolski, Griffin, Dickinson (Hamshaw 13), Bramble (Le Fondre 77)
Subs: Duncan, Clare, Singh
Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Boardman, McArdle, Gallimore, Jones, Doolan, Cooksey (Goodall 78), Lambert, Christie, Dagnall
Subs: Brown, Cartwright, Brisco, Kitchen
Ref: R.J Booth
Att: 4,312
Man of the Match: Keith Briggs. Commanding in the middle of the park and took his goal well.
