Worthington Cup 1st round 2nd leg: Blackburn Rovers 6 Rochdale 1 (Agg 7-2) - Andy Neild reports

ROCHDALE keeper Neil Edwards has become famous for his penalty saving antics during his time at Spotland.

But the 5ft 8in stopper was beaten at his own game last night as midfield maestro David Dunn waltzed away from Ewood clutching his first ever match ball after proving he's the undisputed king of the spot.

Three times the 20-year-old stepped forward to beat Edwards with the kind of nonchalance which defies his tender years. And Dunn's first ever hat-trick in an increasingly blossoming Rovers career provided the perfect finale to an amazing week which has seen the Great Harwood youngster captain England's Under 21s for the first time.

"I couldn't have asked for a better week," said the new shaven-headed hero of the Blackburn End.

"Four goals in seven days isn't a bad return.

"I said I wanted double figures at the start of the season and, hopefully, I can do that.

"But I'm going for 20 now and I think it's on.

"I've got to start getting in and around the box from open play, though, because I need a few more that way."

Don't mistake Dunn's bold target as a sign of arrogance.

It's merely a statement from a man who is playing with the confidence of a player at the very top of his game.

After missing a golden opportunity to put Rovers ahead inside the first 11 minutes, Dunn still had the self-assurance to step forward and seize the ball when referee Bill Burns controversially pointed to the spot for the first time on the stroke of half-time. And, once he stuck that away with aplomb, he went on to demonstrate the steely nerve of a hardened poker player by completing a remarkable hat-trick inside 19 memorable minutes -- each one more emphatically dispatched by his radar-like right boot than the last.

"After he'd gone through with that early chance and hit the keeper I thought perhaps he wasn't the best man to take the first one -- but then, what do I know?" said Souness.

"He coolly slotted away all three and showed everyone he's a clinical striker of the ball."

Dunn's dead ball antics aside, Rovers were somewhat flattered by a 6-1 scoreline on a night when Steve Parkin's plucky Rochdale caused one or two anxious moments for a nervy home defence.

But Dale's spirit was ultimately broken by a debatable penalty award in first half stoppage time which sent Rovers in 2-1 up at the break.

That decision changed the whole face of the game and it wasn't just Dunn who took full advantage.

Kaba Diawara provided some Gallic flair after being handed his first start since signing from Paris St Germain, capping a lively performance with a well-taken goal.

And wing-man Damien Duff started to look a bit more like his old self, rounding off the night with a neat finish to grab his second of the game.

However, Souness is sure to step up his efforts for another defender as Rovers once again looked susceptible at the back when placed under pressure. There were few signs of the goal feast to follow in a sterile first half.

After Dunn had been denied by a smart block from Edwards, Matt Jansen and Marlon Broomes both went close with chances before the home side broke the deadlock on 27 minutes.

Dale midfielder Gary Jones lost possession in the centre circle and Duff raced 40 yards before firing home from the edge of the box via a slight deflection off the hapless David Bayliss.

Rovers fans expected an avalanche but it was the visitors who struck back within eight minutes when former Manchester United winger Simon Davies crossed from the left and striker Clive Platt nipped in ahead of his marker to flick the ball past Alan Kelly. A few further anxious moments followed before the turning point came in the 45th minute when Bayliss chopped down Jansen just outside the box but the ref pointed to the spot and Dunn did the rest with a well placed effort inside Edwards' right-hand post.

Dogged by their sense of injustice, Dale fell apart after the break.

Bayliss's nightmare continued when he pulled back Jansen after being outstripped on the right and Dunn stepped forward again, this time planting a low drive into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner.

And the floodgates were flung wide open when Diawara pounced on hesitancy from Keith Hill before cutting in from the right to drill a left-foot shot past Edwards at the near post. In a brief period of respite, Dale's Lee Todd was unlucky to see an exquisite free kick bounce back off the bar.

But there was no stopping a now rampant Rovers as Wayne Evans tripped Duff in the box and Dunn didn't need a second invitation to complete his hat-trick -- clinically stroking the ball into Edwards' bottom left-hand corner.

It was left to Duff to wrap things up with the goal of the game in the final minute.

Diawara slipped a clever ball through for Egil Ostenstad who laid it off to John Curtis.

And his first time centre was slotted home by the Irishman at the back post.