Genesis?

Rochdale AFC 6 - 1 Chester City FC

Journey:

Dawn. Somewhere in Staffordshire. I had been stationary for about ten minutes. Little did I know that in the next two hours I would only travel another six miles.

I think most people are aware of the horrible tragedies which occurred on the M6 between Monday night and Tuesday morning by now. I was two and a half hours late for a meeting. The famillies and friends of those involved have much bigger concerns at the moment. Gives you a little perspective I guess.

Having concluded my meeting in Oxford I set off back home. Based on reports of continuing problems on the M6 I came back via the M1. I always enjoy coming down the section of the M62 leading off the Pennines - you can see pretty much all of Rochdale at a glance. Considering todays events, a very welcome sight indeed.

As I left the motorway I overtook the Chester City team bus. Not the last time Chester would be out-paced this evening.

Weather:

Winter is truly upon us. A jet black night, be-jewelled with a seemingly endless torrent of silvery rain. In other words - dark, cold and tipping it down.

Food:

Mr. Keane had gone MIA tonight. Possibly due to the after effects of the dry bread buns at Morecambe. Therefore, we welcome back into the line-up: Mr. Mitchell and his father in law Geoff. Clearly, Mr. Mitchell didn't eat anything - well, he never does - does he? Although he did very decently get me a coffee just before half-time.

As is my tradition I got a pie and a diet coke - and as is now becoming a tradition; I missed the first goal...

Away Support:

2-300 perhaps. Not a great turnout from a local club - but I expect the ongoing motorway problems may have played a part - oh, and Champions League on the telly. Sang quite enthusiastically to start with - then began to drift off in ever increasing numbers.

Action:

At the weekend I observed that for all the flashes of quality in this Rochdale side, I felt that things had never fully come together - that Rochdale were perhaps not fully awake to the challenge facing them this season. Remember, after last years adventures - every Dale fan expects promotion by one route or another this term. So our start - whilst by no means bad - portended little.

So to the visit of Chester City.

As has been Mr. Hill's motif in recent weeks, there were changes to the team who drew at Morecambe. Rundle dropped to the bench, being replaced by Thompson on the left. Buckley returned to his berth on the right of midfield.

Mr. Haywood indicated the start of procedings and Rochdale sprang to their task. Just like at Morecambe, Dale started the better of the teams. Although Chester did have nerves jangling with a very early corner. In spite of the weather, Dale kept the ball on the ground and profited for it. On fourteen minutes Dagnall pounced to open the scoring. Which I missed.

No - not the toilet this time. I was in my spiritual home - the pie queue.

Mr. Mitchell explained the specifics when I returned: a twenty yard hammer blow. Possibly another contender for goal of the season. 1-0 Dale.

Chester were looking a little ragged at this stage and it looked very likely that Dale would score again - soon. A dreadfully misjudged challenge by Glen Rule on Thompson reduced Chester to 10 men and pretty well sealed their fate.

Four minutes later Dagnall would reap the rewards of some good work by Thompson to double the lead. 2-0 Dale.

The introduction of Thompson and Buckley was paying real dividends, Mr. Keane's long cherished 'wingers' theory was bearing real fruit. Chester simply didn't have an answer to the pace and penetration of Dale's youthfull stars.

As half time descended, Dale were well and truly on top. Mr. Mitchell made his usual 'seven goal thriller' prediction' - he does this at pretty well every game he attends - as it turned out, he was really onto something tonight.

Rochdale picked up where they had left off in the second half and it looked only a matter of time before another black and blue shirt would score. This is in fact exactly what happened - unfortunately. A rare foray forward from Chester won them a free kick on the edge of the Dale area. Ryan Lowe drove the ball into the box - where it took a deflection of McArdle and flew into the back of the net. 2-1.

This happened once before. Perhaps Rotherham had loaned Chester their kangaroo. I sincerely hoped not.

Five minutes later and Dale were two in front again. Some real tenacity in the face of some muscular defending saw Daganll spin free and finish beautifully to seal a very well deserved hat-trick. 3-1.

At this point Chester fans began to leave. What followed was little better than a rout.

Thorpe nudged a fourth home on 62 minutes.

St Adam - having replaced Dagnall on 64 - produced an exquisite piece of ariel ballet on 68 to control the ball, turn and deliver a finish - with both feet off the ground. 5-1.

Within a minute St Adam popped up again to drive past the luckless Danby in the Chester net for his second and Dale's sixth. 6-1.

In the time remaining Dale continued to drive forward creating chance after chance - Toner and Buckley both rattling the frame of the goal - but 6-1 it would remain.

The applause as the players left the sodden pitch was both fulsome and deserved.

Summary:

Well, I did say the sleeper must awaken. I think it is safe to say any lingering doubts about this season were blown away tonight. It is obviously just one result. But, having dealt out a footballing lesson like that, the players now know what they can do and can be completely confident in their capabilities in every fixture.

Thompson and Buckley were simply irresistable tonight. Wiseman turned in his best performance at full back yet. Toner was excellent in the middle - giving Jones the confidence to raid forward: Jones also had an exceptional game.

And...

Chris Dagnall. Words simply escape me. Only a few weeks ago he looked dejected and generally out of sorts. Welcome back Daggers.

In rebuttal of my comments at the weekend, I offer you the words of the largely misunderstood philosopher, Timmy Mallett: 'We're Wide Awake!'

Turner Watch:

Considering joining AC Milan for the balance of the season in order to improve his chances of an England call up.

21/10/08