A Boys Own adventure

Dagenham and Redbridge FC 1 - 1 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

You could have cut the excitement with a cricket stump when Mr. Keane rolled up at 07:30. The Dagenham game! Our big road trip to that London.

Quite literally minutes of planning had gone into this excursion. A tank full of diesel, digs with Mr. Cootes and a cool bag full of pig related products (for the big Sunday fry-up you understand).

After a stop off at McDonalds for scones and lashings of ginger beer we were on our way - into a torrential downpour. Were we down hearted - No! You may recall from our trip to Mansfield that Mr. Keane had usurped my crown as undisputed heavyweight queen of the '80's. To honour his coronation I had loaded the auto-changer with Top of the Pops: 1981, 83, 85, 87 & 89. You should have seen his little face... I think he was genuinely moved by the gesture.

M62, M60, M62, M6 we thundered past Stoke and then Birmingham under clear skies. After a further stop for scones and lashings of ginger beer we joined the M1 and pressed on south.

It was somewhere around here that my associate and I found ourselves dueting to 'Up where we belong' - this was swiftly broken up amidst assorted harrumphing's.

Around nine miles from the M25 we joined a traffic jam. It was at this point that something which had been a minor concern became a pressing issue. I had eaten a hearty tea of chicken, potato's and veg on Friday night - Mr. Keane had elected to entertain a chicken Vindaloo. Without being too indelicate - it kept popping back. Enclosed space - fruity aroma's. I think you get the idea. A traffic jam was by no means welcome.

With streaming eyes and the windows wide open, we crawled on towards that London. With three miles left to the M25 Mr. Keane redeemed himself in some measure by suggesting a detour. Off the M1 onto a seemingly disused dual carriageway and in next to no time we were on the M25 heading east.

Under darkening skies we arrived in Romford and after a swift intake of breath that there are parking meters on residential streets in that London: the car was berthed on Mr. Cootes drive. After a false start at Romford station we headed for the bus stop.

'Return to Dagenham East, please'.

'We don't do returns, mate'.

'Single to Dagenham East then, please'.

'I don't go to Dagenham East - you want the other side of the road, mate'.

Notwithstanding unhelpful bus drivers we finally arrived at the Eastbrook public house at 13:00. We were in 'good' company - the British National Party were holding a rally in the lounge bar.

Weather:

The run into the game was punctuated by showers and sunshine - mostly sunshine. Little could have prepared us for what happened at kick-off.

Food:

The Eastbrook is located next to a 'Pie and Mash' shop. However, in spite of our best efforts - we never quite made it. Lashings of actual beer were the order of the day.

Consequently, we headed to the Victoria Ground a little unsteadily.

The pies had run out so Mr. Keane and I opted for the burger - with cheese and fried onions. As with all food at clubs recently of the Football Conference - it was inexpensive and actually quite appetising. The coffee wasn't bad either.

Ground:

In spite of Mr. Evans apologies in advance on behalf of the Victoria Ground - I didn't think it was too bad. Covered sides and open ends. A little rough and ready - particularly the pitch: which looked a little boggy - but OK. Self evidently non-league - but better than the infamous Moss Rose.

The absence of a roof would become an issue to the 300 or so Dale fans who had made the journey south.

Action:

Mr. East of Wiltshire put the whistle to his lips - and - it hailed. Pea sized hail. For ten minutes. Followed by a further five minutes of frigid, driving rain. A genuine treat when you are in the open. The fixture at Spotland had been far from a feast of football. The opening exchanges of this encounter were little better.

Dale looked a little tired after so many games so quickly - Dagenham looked like a team in dire need of points. Unsurprisingly, Daggenham had very much the better of the game, creating a few decent chances.

The weather cleared and hopes rose that Dale would kick into gear. Sadly hope did not become reality and the Daggers direct approach prevailed.

At around this point Mr. Keane received a text from Mr. Evans:

'We cordially invite you down to our level'.

Then on 28 minutes, quite literally out of nothing the ball was plucked out of the air by Higginbotham and lashed towards goal. 1 - 0 Dale.

Granted it was against the run of play - but under the circumstances - I wasn't grumbling. Perhaps now Dale would hit their stride.

No.

Just five minutes later Stevens found a way through the Dale defence and finished with style. 1 - 1.

The half finished as a fairly open encounter with both sides finding openings. However, as the whistle blew - 1 - 1 it remained.

After the inclement conditions of the first half a number of Dale fans congregated around a handy corner for a smoke - I and Mr. Keane among them. Panic ensued as a hi-viz jacketed steward strode towards us. As you are proabably aware smoking is now forbidden in football grounds - even open ones. Therefore the stewards next move was surprising:

'I'm going over there for a moment - when I come back - you won't be doing that'.

Pragmatic law enforcement - always a winner.

In order to keep the dream of automatic promotion alive - 1-1 was of little use to Dale. In order to avoid the drop zone - 1-1 was of little use to Dagenham.

The second half would be an end to end affair.

Dale introduced Le Fondre on 50 and then Basham and Dagnall on 63 - the Daggers chose to persist with their established line up throughout.

Chances came at both ends - but the better chances came Dale's way. However, a combination of poor finishing, stern defending and excellent if eccentric keeping from Tony Roberts averted Dales intentions.

The incident of the half would be Dagenham's Arber's extended stay on the floor after a semingly innocuous collision with Le Fondre.

As Mr. East blew the whistle to close procedings - 1-1 it remained.

Summary:

Bad weather, a fatigued looking Dale and a resolute Dagenham meant that this was very much more a point gained rather than two points lost.

Not the most entertaining football match I have ever seen - but an improvement over the game at Spotland. On balance a fair and valuable result for Dale.

On the up side I shook hands with Tony Roberts in the foyer of the social club after the game. Mr. Keane managed to get within two feet of Gary Jones before he was crash tackled by Mr. Jones' security team.

Football and the licensee trade were the real winners today.

Turner Watch:

As Mr. Turner had elected not to make the trip to Dagenham - we turn our attention to local celebrity Mr. O' Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy Watch:

Pitched up late, largely anonymous throughout the game, went on to form an abiding and beautiful relationship with a wheelie bin later in the evening. Disappointing.

12/04/08