American Sea Power

Rochdale AFC 3 - 1 Grimsby Town FC

Journey:

Lady Luck is 12 today - Happy Birthday Miss. Eden-Maughan.

This meant that my trip to Spotland today was subject to a slight detour - via York. Miss. Eden-Maughan's birthday treat was a trip around York - in a gyrocopter. Very cool.

She even had a go at flying the gyrocopter - those of you who watch the news will note that York Minster was not hit by a small helicopter today - so I assume things went well. I haven't gone into the area of product endorsement before - but, if you would like to try this for yourself check out: www.theGyrocopterExperience.co.uk.

If you would like to promote your business or products in this match report - bring cash. Lots.

Food:

Coffee, the new gloves worked a treat. To my horror the Sandy Patisserie had run out of meat and potato pies - all they had left was cheese pies.

CHEESE! - PIE! Am I hearing right? It's just wrong. Wrong.

In protest, I ate it very quickly and enjoyed it not one bit.

Weather:

Vivid cerulean skies, towering columns of milky white cloud, bright sunshine.

However, just as the game was about to kick off we were treated to a few minutes of hail. Just as quickly as it arrived - it was gone - and we were back to blue skies and sunshine.

Variety. That is the key.

Away Support:

Maybe 100. After last week's Wembley adventure my guess is that the Grimsby massive were spent-up. Dejected looking and largely silent throughout.

Action:

Dale were well and truly on the up entering this contest - coming off the back of three wins and safely installed in a playoff berth. The Mariners were on a down - shattering disappointment at Wembley last weekend and little or nothing to play for as the season runs down.

An interesting recipe, an interesting first half.

Dale and Grimsby poked and prodded at one another in a fairly open half. Neither really committing fully to the game. Chances were rare for both teams - although both sides agitated the furniture - Dale from a Thorpe header and a Rundle free-kick - Grimsby from a swervy Toner free kick.

Pretty uninspiring stuff.

It seemed like the talking point of the half would be Thorpe's untimely departure following what appeared to be a dead-leg. USS Howe slipped his moorings and joined the action in place of the hobbling Thorpe.

Mr. McDermid of Middlesex had indicated his intentions to control the game from very early on. Grimsby's Hunt making his way into the book on ten minutes.

Nathan Jarman should probably have taken note. Regrettably for him - the lesson was lost. A fairly ugly challenge on Tom Kennedy saw him join Hunt around the half hour mark - and on thirty seven minutes an equally agricultural swipe at David Perkins saw him gain a second caution followed by a brisk walk to the dressing room.

The man advantage bore no instant fruit for Dale and the half wound down without further incident. As it was Lady Luck's birthday, Mrs. Eden-Maughan was back on the team sheet along with my neice, Miss. Pixton who was attending her very first football match. They had elected to go into the main stand.

I was accompanied by Messers Keane and Mitchell in the Sandy. The social butterfly that is Mr. Turner had decided to ensconce himself in the Pearl Street Stand. Celebrities!

The big news of half time was that Dagnall, having picked up a cold would not be on the bench today. More alarmingly, Spotty - the Dalemation was nowhere in sight. Desmond was left to frolic alone. As we listened to the half time scores over the PA - with a mixture of joy and disappointment - the skies turned leaden and snow began to fall.

In our half time musings, Mr Mitchell and I felt that a policy a patient pressure would be the way of the second half. But, what do we know?

The snow cleared, the sun came out and on 47 minutes Dale were in the lead.

An instant of artifice from Kennedy sprang Rundle clear, a pin-point left foot cross, USS Howe - arriving at flank speed - with a powerful close range header. Who needs patience?

The Mariners were visibly deflated - whatever plan they may have had was now in tatters. Unsurprisingly, just seven minutes later Dale doubled their advantage when Higginbotham flicked on for USS Howe who navigated through Grimsby's trawler bloackade and unleashed a telling broadside. 2- 0 Dale.

St. Adam joined the fray on 69 for Muirhead and very nearly made it three for Dale - only sharp reactions from Barnes denied him.

Perkins made way for Basham on 83 - in what could be described as a tactical substitution. Mrs. Eden-Maughan had over heard an exchange between Mr. McDermid and Perkins which concluded along the lines of 'you've already been booked lad - one more word and you are off'.

The resulting reorganisation gifted Grimsby a rare opportunity which they grabbed with both hands. Slack Dale defending allowed Taylor to pull one back for the Mariners on 85. 2 - 1. Nervous times ahead.

With the chance of a point - Grimsby threw everything forward - bringing on veteran striker Gary Jones (no not that one!) on 87.

After a few uncomfortable minutes the ball arrived at the feet of Higginbotham. A moment of delightful interplay between Higinbotham and Le Fondre cut the Grimsby defence apart and set up USS Howe to deliver the final coupe-de-gras. 3 - 1 Dale.

Four wins on the bounce - I have a nose bleed.

Summary:

A scrappy first half including a sending off followed by another Dale hat-trick and a convincing win. Three hat-tricks in less than two months - where is Rochdale AFC and what have these lads done with them?

Up to 6th place now.

Onward to Wembley!

Turner Watch:

Too good for the likes of us peasants these days. You've changed man.

5/04/08