Those darned Brazilians

Rochdale AFC 0 - 2 Lincoln Town FC

Journey:

As I live less than a mile from the ground this section should be fairly straightforward - got in car, drove for five minutes, arrived, done! However thanks to the dreamteam of Rochdale MBC and the Highways Agency, Sudden's upper roundabout is being 'improved'. Oh yes ladies and gentlemen - improved! Where once there was a perfectly servicable roundabout - say hello to a forrest of cones and meaningless signage, ground to a standstill by utterly confused motorists vainly trying to get where they want to go.

Away Support:

Disappointing to tell the truth. Maybe 200 at a pinch. From my last visit to Sincil Bank I seem to recall that every seat had a little paper sticker with a name on it. Perhaps they had stayed in Lincoln to stop people nicking their seats? The 'Lincoln 200' remained pretty well silent throughout the game - well at least until the unthinkable happened...


Food:

The Sandy Lane Delicatessan served up its usual array of quality fare. As I had been dragged round MFI, Tesco and then Dunelm that morning (without sustinance) I went for the two pie option - both of which were excellent. M'colleague Mr. Keane opted for a pie and moments later a burger - prompting murmurings of an eating challenge from Messrs Mitchell and Turner. The challenge never did materialise - however it did provoke an idea for a major new motion picture: middle aged men engage in a knockout style pie eating competition - culminating in a mano-y-mano final - resulting in an ultimate champion. We thought we would call it: Pielander!


Weather:


Cool and dry.


Action:

Dale were on a roll! Lincoln were hovering above the relegation zone. Rochdale had come through the worst Macc and the weather had thrown at them and swashbuckled their way past Darlington to within sight of the play-off's. There was definite anticipation in the air - when news filtered through that Keith Hill would not be in the dug-out (preferring the rarified air of the hospitality area in a suit hired from Denis Hope's) - the conviction that this was no more than a formality was reinforced.

But...

Lincoln had read the script and made plans of their own. The fact that they had eschewed their favoured red and white in favour of a Brazil kit should have been a clue... The first half was a bits-and-pieces affair which ebbed and flowed back and forth. Worryingly for Dale they never really found their rhythm; attacks fizzled out in the face of robust defending and became fewer and farther between as the half wore on; the Lincoln keeper was never troubled.


Lincoln on the other hand had come with a plan and applied it with grim, unswerving determination. It was only thanks to the gymnastics of Sam Russell that Dales blushes were saved. Dale rallied slightly as half time approached - but to no effect. As the whistle blew, 0-0 was probably fair, if rather disappointing. Dale tried to up the pace as the second half curtain went up - but again Lincoln held firm. The second half largely followed the format of the first half with Dale making a marginally better fist of things, but even a couple of substitutions couldn't break the dead-lock.

A dreary game, going nowhere, two pies, a few laughs and an idea for a movie - there are worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. Then came four minutes that ruined everything.

Around the 80 minute mark Dale had the ball in the net! Regrettably Glen Murray was adjudged to have handled the ball and was booked for his endeavours. Opinion on this was divided - but m'colleague Mr. Turner (who was in fairness closest) bore out the referee's decision.

We had scarcely recovered when Lincoln won a slightly controversial free kick in the Dale half. Amidst some confused defending Lincoln's Jamie Forrester poked the ball home. Two minutes later Dale performed their formation Red Sea manouver leaving Frecklington with a clean sight of goal and with the aid of the post Lincoln found themselves 2-0 ahead.

Summary:

This was not a good game. Dale were distinctly below par and Lincoln did not live up to the promise of their change strip. However, Lincoln were fit, prepared and well organised and on balance probably deserved their win. Dale must do better - if nothing else, it should stem the tide of pie related humour.

5/01/08