Journeymen

Rochdale AFC 4 - 2 Notts County FC

Journey:

I was reading the BBC message board in the week and was intrigued to hear that two lads from Glasgow regularly make the trip to Spotland to watch the Dale. That is some trip.

My journey today was every bit as epic.

06:00 Rochdale. Left my house in a cold, drizzly dawn - heading for Rochdale train station. Got the train to Manchester - arrived- walked across Manchester - got the train to London. 10:00 London.

Arrived at my meeting. If you arrive at a place of business to find: a G-Whizz parked outside, asking for a coffee involves a menu, all the blokes have topiary beards and the girls are called Jocasta, Elfin or Summer - there is only one explanation. You have entered... A Marketing Agency.

14:30 London. Taxi back to Euston through rubbish London traffic. Got the train to Manchester - arrived - walked across Manchester - after a false start managed to get on a train to Rochdale. 19:00 Rochdale.

Whilst I was sat on the train from Rochdale I noticed the chap facing me was wearing a black and white striped football shirt. Mainly because I had spent the day with people who say 'yuh' instead of 'yes' - and assuming him to be Dale - I decided to strike up a conversation. 'Going to the game?'. Leaning forward he said 'yes' (not 'yuh' you note) - as he did so his jacket fell open and I saw - Magpies!

Curse our centenary kit!

He turned out to be a decent fella. He'd finished work early in Nottingham and set off on his own, by train to see the game tonight. We talked about the Magpies future - he was not very optimistic, there was even a shade of concern that the venerable old club could go out of business. We laughed about the plans to turn Mansfield Town into Harchester United. We speculated about tonight's final score - he thought County were in for a hammering - I was a bit more cautious after the mugging Dale got down at Meadow Lane.

The train pulled into Rochdale and we went our seperate ways wishing each other good luck for later.

Most uncharacteristically for me, I arrived at the ground seven whole minutes early. Mr Mitchell was stunned.

Weather:

Clear blue skies. On an evening like this, you can see promotion from here.

Food:

Having shunned the tofu and beansprout wrap I was offered in London I was starving. Two pies and a coke was the answer.

Mr. Keane having gorged himself at home was not in the mood for pie or burger tonight. I got him a coffee. I did offer him the use of one of my new gloves - but he did not seem to like the idea of looking like Michael Jackson - however briefly.

Part way through his coffee he announced that he quite fancied a Twix. Some time later he mentioned it again and then a little later, again. Finally, and with about ten minutes left to half time he decided to haul himself down to the Patisserie. They had sold out.

There is probably some kind of moral here - please feel free to make one up.

Away Support:

I looked out for my fellow journeyman - but I didn't see him. Fifty or so to start with. A few more filtered in as the first half progressed. To their credit they made up for their slender numbers by singing like maniacs throughout.

Action:

Somthing was wrong. As the team was read out we noticed the absence of Stanton, Mc Ardle and Muirhead. Coming in were Holness, D'Laryea and Thompson. Squad rotation - at the Dale? No. An accident on the motorway had trapped our regulars in a huge tail-back.

In the context of Dale's recent run of form and County's desperate position in the league - such significant changes to a winning side were concerning.

The Magpies have built something of a reputation as goal-less away draw specialists. It was clear from the kick-off that they intended to defend in depth. They did. It was pretty dreary. It was no surprise when the half-time whistle blew that honours were even at 0 - 0.

It was encouraging to see that our over-fed Dale-mation was back on duty. He (or possibly she?) spent half time letting the ball boys & girls try to put penalties past him.

Mr. Mitchell had brought an associate with him this evening. Felix. He introduced himself saying, 'I come to Spotland 2 or 3 times a year - whether I need to or not'. Felix is latin for 'to be lucky', He should come more often.

The second half started more brightly - Dale were getting into their stride. Thompson made way for St. Adam on 53. On 57 Dale were in the lead.

In almost a carbon copy of Dales first on Saturday, Kennedy released Rundle who provided a quality left foot cross which found USS Howe patrolling the near post. A looping header defeated Hoult. 1 - 0 Dale.

Ten minutes later endeavour and persistence from Rundle made it 2 - 0. Rundle had been excellent all game and this was a just reward.

Two minutes later Dale nerves were jangling when Weston bull-dozed his way into the Dale area and unleashed a low cross which found football's archetypal journeyman Jason Lee (14 clubs and counting, now minus pineapple) unmarked at the back post. He made no mistake. 2 - 1.

Any worries were calmed six minutes later when USS Howe broke clear down the right and unleashed a shell of a cross which found St. Adam arriving at pace in the box. A deft and clinical header left Hoult stranded. The quality of this goal was breathtaking - it wouldn't have looked out of place in the Premiership. 3 - 1.

At this point procedings were pretty well closed. Michael Johnson contrived to pass the ball past his own keeper on 85 to make it 4 - 1 for Dale and some over exuberant Dale defending earned County a penalty on 90 - neatly slotted home by Mackenzie to make it 4 - 2. But by this stage the result was beyond doubt.

Summary:

500+ miles. 5 wins on the spin. A dreary first half followed by some truly exceptional play from Dale. Now is the time to believe.

The match report will return in: Dale vs Dagger's - the return leg. Messers O'Shaunessey, Evans and Cootes - watch out!

Turner Watch:

Apparently working with disadvantaged kids on behalf of UNICEF. Whether they were disadvantaged before they met Mr. Turner is a matter of serious speculation.

8/04/09