Ch,ch,ch,ch - Changes.

Rochdale AFC 1 - 1 Shrewsbury Town FC

Journey:

It is usually at this point that I whine on about roundabouts, traffic and the like.

Not this week.

As I drove to Spotland this week I felt odd. It took me a while to work out what was up; as I parked the car it dawned on me what was the matter. The usual horrible sensation of pre-match anxiety was nowhere to be seen.

The last game of the season is usually at best a time for praying for some mathematical improbability to turn up; or at its darkest a time for praying that the worst does not happen; more typically a time to reflect on how much better next season will be - probably.

Not this time.

Whatever happens today, Rochdale AFC will be in the play-offs.

As I sauntered toward the Sandy and passed groups of Dale fans you could genuinely feel optimism in the air. A spring in people's step, smiling faces, backs being slapped. A genuinely different place to the Spotland Mr. Hill and Mr. Flitcroft took charge of eighteen months ago. Thanks guys.

Weather:

Warm and overcast.

Food:

Keane and Turner stuck to their burgers. I had a pie related disaster - but more of that later.

Away Support:

Easily 400 Shrews made the trip - possibly more. An attractive selection of fancy dress was on display including several smurfs and a chicken - to mention just a few. Vocal throughout - clearly determined to enjoy what remained of their season.

Usually I don't talk about the Dale support in this section - but as it is the last game of the regular season, I will do as I like. 3500 or more - truly awe inspiring. Our little group included: myself, Mr. Turner, Mr. Keane, both Keane junior's, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Mitchell's father-in-law Geoff, two un-named friends of Mr. Turner - oh - and in the story of the season: The Ice Cream Man Cometh - Mr. McCabe and the future to be ex-Mrs. McCabe also joined us. Sadly minus ice cream.

Action:

With a place in the play-off's secure it was likely that Mr. Hill may look to make a few changes. I was a little un-prepared for the exact number of changes he would make.

8.

Eight changes from the team which started against Bury last week. Dale resting players for a big game - how times change...

The effect of the wholesale alterations to the team were pretty clear from the kick-off. Dale looked ill at ease and disjointed. Shrewsbury took full advantage. The Shrews had more of the ball and strung together chance after chance in contrast to an at best muted response from Rochdale. It wasn't any real surprise when Shrewsbury took the lead on 34 minutes.

A freekick struck deep into the Dale area created chaos and the ball flashed into the net past a wrong-footed Lee. The official version of the game indicates that Asa Hall of Shrewsbury was the scorer - those of us behind the Sandy goal know the aweful truth. 1-0 Shrewsbury.

Dale did respond after going behind. But as half time arrived - Shrewsbury retained the advantage. As is the tradition at Spotland, half time is - 'Gooooooooolden Gamble Time!'. I met Mr. Golden Gamble in the toilets of the Studd's Bar at last Saturday's Indie Night. He gave an exclusive performance of 'It's Goooolden Gamble Time!' - truly something to tell the grandkids.

In the interval we got to hear the first airing of Rochdale's play-off anthem voted for by the readers of the Rochdale Observer - a little tune called 'Time to Believe' by a local outfit called 'The Shameless'. It begins with - you guessed it - 'It's Gooooooooooolden Gamble Time!'. Actually not that bad - and an improvement on the now rather grating 'Rochdale Hero's' - our centenary anthem. Just how many anthems do we need?

The real talking point of the first half was not actually football related. Our badger headed companion Mr. McCabe - had dyed his hair. Where once grey flecked his black mane - there was ginger. I mean - c'mon! Ginger!

Anyway, somewhere amidst the Mrs. Slocombe jokes the second half had begun.

Dale started far better in the second half and on 54 minutes, things were all square thanks to Chris Dagnall.

I would like to describe the goal for you - but unfortunately I was in the pie queue. So in Mr. Keane's words - this is what happened:

'The keeper dropped it, caught it, then dropped it again, Daggers steamed in and stuck it in the onion bag'.

A tour de force of factual simplicity.

The balance of the half was pretty open with chances for both sides. However, it seemed that with ten minutes to go that Dale had clinched all three points when St. Adam drilled the ball under a sprawling Bevan in the Shrewsbury goal. The referee was in the process of indicating a goal when he spotted a waving flag on the touchline.

How lucky we were to have the only linesman in the Football League with X-ray vision. In spite of the referee's clear view of Le Fondre from ten yards away - the linesman twenty yards behind Le Fondre had spotted a hand ball. How lucky we are indeed.

And so it ended - 1-1.

Summary:

A gamble from Mr. Hill which paid off in the end. Not the best game I have seen this season - but not to demean this contest - I honestly don't care - we are in the play-off's!

Gone are the days of the end of season pitch invasion - which is sad - but the Dale squad and staff came out and did a lap of honour around Spotland to endless applause.

'This is not the end, nor even the beginning of the end - but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning'.

Winston Churchill

Darlington - here we come!

Turner Watch:

Spent most of the game examining Mr. McCabe's 'do' - it was like watching 'Life on Earth'. Sickening.

3/05/09