Mobbed

Notts County FC 1 - 0 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

Away trips usually begin with a trip to my local corner shop. Let's face it who can afford to pay motorway service station prices? As I was selecting drinks, crisps etc - I ran into 'Pickle' Pete. Pete is a die-hard Dale fan who I have been on chatting terms with for years. In that time he has proved to be an excellent source of Dale gossip - today was no exception.

As I waited to pay; Pete passed on three useful nuggets:

Dagnall has signed a contract upto 2010.

Dale have already signed a new striker for the 2008/9 season. Prepare for the return of the Mack - Lee McEvily will be back at Spotland come summer!

The remaining Dale players fretting on contract extensions need not worry - new contracts are being drafted as we speak.

With all that absorbed I got in the car and with light snow falling over Rochdale - I headed south. The journey was largely event free. Sudden roundabout had elected to be a roundabout this weekend - so no headaches getting out of the Borough. M62, M1 - past the 80's theme park (Sheffield) and onwards to Nottingham. Nottingham centre itself is a bit of a warren - but even with heavy Saturday traffic we were at Meadow Lane in a little under two hours.

Well - not exactly. We were actually at the City Ground - due to some pilot error on my part. A further few minutes of negotiating the byways of Nottingham saw us safely parked up right next to Meadow Lane. £5 to park.

Weather:

There was loads.

Food:

I should explain at this stage that our normal line-up of connoisseurs were not available for this trip. Messers Keane and Mitchell were on international duties. Rochdale's flake baron was reaping the ripe bounty of the holiday weekend. Mr. Turner was probably opening a supermarket somewhere.

Therefore, along with Lady Luck there was a surprise call-up for Mrs. Eden-Maughan.

A coffee and two Coke's £4.30. Not quite in the Mansfield league - but still pretty steep. Unlike Mansfield, the coffee was definitely coffee.

£2.50 for a chicken and mushroom pie! Granted it was a Pukka pie - and very nice to - if a little on the hot side - but £2.50! On the other hand, Mrs. Eden-Maughan opted for the hot dog. This was also £2.50 - but it was possibly the largest hot dog I have ever seen. Basically a loaf - split down the middle with a sausage and all the fried onions you could handle. Always an eye for a bargain that wife of mine.

Ground:

In previous reports I have been fairly acid on the subject of the grounds I have visited. The agricultural qualities of Moss Rose, the half-done Field Mill and the baffling grab-bag of structures that is Edgeley Park.

Meadow Lane is nothing like any of these. Four modern stands, all seated, all enclosed. The home of the Magpies is the best ground I have visited for some years.

The home support was pretty impressive - upwards of 3000. Although for reasons which were not exactly clear the stand facing us was almost empty. In fairness, there were some fairly big gaps all around the ground - but then consider that sixteen years ago - County were rubbing shoulders with Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal in English football's top tier. This ground was designed for very different times.

Dale's away support continues to surprise and delight. Easily 500 - if not many more. Considering there was only one coach laid on, this was all the more impressive. The Dale choral society were in good voice half an hour before the kick-off - inflatables were being tossed back and forth amongst the throng to add to the holiday mood.

Action:

Magpies. Have you ever seen how Magpies deal with an ambitious cat or an exuberant dog? No? Let me explain:

As one, they will take to the wing and then take it in turns to dive bomb the offender until such time as it realises that there are probably easier pickings elsewhere. It is called - according to the RSPB - mobbing. I strongly suspect that Mr. McParland has seen this to.

Dale were on a high after last weeks antics versus the hapless Accrington Stanley and started the game with their customary elan - winning a freekick on the edge of the county area just minutes into the game.

But then it began to go wrong.

Dale tried to pass the ball around but were harried and closed down at every turn. Pass after pass was cut out by a County player throwing themselves into the path of the ball. Jones and Perkins were simply being over-run.

Dale tried to switch to an ariel route of attack to avoid the relentless and frenzied assault on the midfield. As you would expect, the Magpies were excellent in the air - and more than contained Dale's escape route.

With the midfield played out of the game and Howe and LeFondre ably stewarded by the County defence - the blows began to fall on the Dale back four. Chance after chance fell to the Magpies as the half wore on. On eighteen minutes County looked certain to take advantage of a horrible mix-up between McArdle and loan keeper Lee - only poor finishing from Crow saved Dale's blushes. The pressure continued to build and on twenty eight minutes Johnson put the Magpies ahead in the melee following a poorly handled corner.

As the whistle blew for half time Dale retired from the field, comprehensively out-competed and 1-0 down.

Half time was brightened by small boys playing eleven-a-side - commentary provided by a man apparently trying to impersonate Colin Crompton. The boys in all blue - were County - the boys in red and white stripes - were Dale. Well, according to Colin that is. All very confusing. 'Dale' won 6-1.

The second half would be a pretty frantic affair. Dale pressed forward and created a good selection of chances including a dramatic goal line clearance from a Basham shot. Dale also had the ball in the net - twice - both efforts ruled out for reasons which were not exactly clear.

By this stage the Magpies were plainly hanging on for dear life - but with a lead to protect and the commitment of the first half still very much in evidence - Dale simply could not find a way through.

Dale made a couple of late substitutions - but to no obvious advantage. By this stage County were more than happy to hold the ball up by the corner flag.

Summary:

I am not sure quite what Dale had expected today - perhaps that struggling County could be swept aside as they had done to Mansfield and Accrington so recently?

County are a proud club with a long (the longest in fact) tradition of league football. Today they were simply in no mood to allow Dale to help drive them into the Conference.

Never a pretty game by any means - County nullified Dale's plans and firmly imposed their own. Worthy winners.

As I plunged into a gathering blizzard north of Nottingham an old Level 42 track came on the radio. Like Mark King I was left to lament, '...could be better, should be better...'

Turner Watch:

I really don't know why I bother with this bit anymore.

22/03/08