Execute SQL Scalar Select with ASP.NET 3.5

Function SelectByScalar(ByVal strCriteria As String) As Integer
 
  Dim objConn As New SqlConnection()
  Dim objCmd As New SqlCommand()
  Dim strSQL As String
 
  objConn = New SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("[connection]").ConnectionString)
  objCmd.Connection = objConn
  objCmd.Connection.Open()
 
  strSQL = "SELECT Count(ID) "
  strSQL += "FROM [table] "
  strSQL += "WHERE [field] LIKE '%" & strCriteria & "%';"
 
  objCmd = New SqlCommand(strSQL, objConn)
  SelectByScalar = objCmd.ExecuteScalar()
 
  objCmd.Dispose()
  objConn.Dispose()
  objConn.Close()
 
End Function