Return of the king

Rochdale AFC 4 - 1 Rotherham United FC

Journey:

My niece is one today. This meant a whistle-stop trip to Stockport:

13:45 hrs arrive Stockport town centre. 13:50 hrs hand over gifts. 13:55 hrs coo over child and pose for happy snaps. 14:00 hrs discuss with brother-in-law the curious fate of his Liverpool FC at the hands of Manchester United yesterday. 14:10 hrs (yes he does go on a bit) lighting raid on buffet. 14:15 hrs depart Stockport town centre.

14:50 hrs arrive Rochdale. 14:55 hrs leave Mrs. Eden-Maughan and Lady Luck at RAFC club shop with instructions on where to come when their shopping trip is over. 14:58 hrs I arrive at the Sandy Lane terrace. Now that - is planning!

Food:

Pie and a coke - still quite full after the buffet blitzkrieg.

It was around here that my seamless plan fell apart. In her hurry to make the kick-off, Lady Luck had dragged her mother through the wrong turnstile. They were in the Main Stand.

Now call me suspicious, but...

Lady Luck has been in the Sandy many times - she knows where the turnstiles are. Two ladies - the option to stand for two hours - or - to have a seat. Accident or cunning plan? You decide.

In any case, Mrs. Eden-Maughan thoroughly enjoyed her pie - and the fact that you get change from £2 at Spotland.

Weather:

A still, cool afternoon. A heavy sky overhead promised snow for later.

Away Support:

200 maybe 250. Not a brilliant showing - but Rotherham have not had a brilliant week. Despite the best efforts of the Millers board - administration arrived once again like an odious and unwanted party guest. Not satisfied with drinking all the decent lager - administration also brings an automatic 10 point deduction. A bitter, bitter blow indeed.

However. Rotherham's loss is Dale's gain. Dale are now four points off the play-off's with three games in hand. Which is nice...

Action:

Due to the enforced absence of Keane, Mitchell and Mr. Whippy - and Mr Turner's other social commitments - I fielded a squad unchanged from Saturday. Mr. Hill however had chosen to make some changes.

Chris Basham dropped to the bench to be replaced by Ben Muirhead on the right of midfield. To the delight of the home fans it was also announced that Chris Dagnall would also be warming the bench for Dale today. Encouraging - but you shouldn't expect too much - not with everything that lad has been through - it's just great to have him back - no, shouldn't expect too much...

It seems an eternity since Dale tangled with the Millers at Spotland - but it is true what they say: you meet everyone twice in your life - once on the way up - once on the way back down. Welcome back Rotherham.

Dale, as is their wont, began brightly. Two or three half decent chances followed and all looked well. ...And then Rotherham won a corner. 1-0 Rotherham - Joseph claiming the laurels for the Millers on the seven minute mark.

My memory of Rotherham sides of old is eleven very large men who would quite literally batter you off the field of play. Clearly the current Millers mangement see no reason to mess with a trusted formula. The next twenty minutes were truly torrid for Dale.

Rotherham over-ran the Dale midfield - Le Fondre and Howe were marooned upfield, encircled by large, serious looking defenders. The Dale defensive unit were stretched to the maximum - with Lee, Ramsden, Mc Ardle, Stanton and Kennedy performing above and beyond the call of duty.

Being Easter - a miracle was required and duly it arrived.

A speculative ball upfield, pulled down by Rundle - into Howe - accross the area to Jones. GOAL! On thirty minutes, Dale were back in it. 1-1.

Spurred on Dale went over to the offensive and finished the half very much on the front foot.

As I have mentioned, the travelling circus which normally accompany me to home games were all otherwise engaged and my loved ones had elected for the comfort of the main stand. What then, is a Dale fan to do?

Talk to complete strangers - that's what!

There is an etiquette to this of course. A muttered comment about the procedings so far, referee's, the game at Notts County. Three minutes into half time - Mike and I were the best of pals. He even gave me an extra strong mint. Ace!

Dale started purposefully as the second half began. With proof that Rotherham's titans could indeed be bettered - chances came - but sadly went. After ten minutes of Dale pressure the pendulum swung back to the Millers.

Once again Dale's defensive unit were put under the cosh - but as before they held out. A draw was to neither team's advantage and substitutions quickly came. Rotherham on sixty minutes with Newsham, Dale on sixty five with Thorpe - and then again on sixty eight with Dagnall.

Agressive - but Thorpe had showed little in his time at Spotland and was reportedly the worse for a cold, Dagnall had suffered two horrible injuries - a nasty operation (trust me on this - I know) and a long, painful convalesence. Was this really a recipe for success?

Err - apparently - yes.

Ten minutes of bedding in and then the storm broke.

On eighty one minutes a ball into the area found Thorpe. Pivot. Cross. Dagnall. GOAL! 2-1 Dale. ( I understand that at this point an ecstatic Mr. Flitcroft pitched head first into the snowdrift next to the dug-out). Eighty six minutes - Dagnall again - 3-1. Ninety minutes - who else - Dagnall - 4-1.

Dagnall raced into the goal to collect the match ball and held it aloft for the Sandy - I confess I had to brush a tear from the corner of my eye. Magic.

Summary:

A typical Dale start. A truly extraordinary finish.

One point behind Philladelphia with three games in hand - thankyou Bradford.

As I clapped Dale off the field, a light snow began to fall.

Turner Watch:

If you have seen or heard from Mr. Turner recently - please do let me know. Otherwise I will start a rumour that he was having his teeth whitened.

24/03/08