Never Ever

Rochdale AFC 2 - 2 Lincoln City FC

Journey:

Well Jack Frost did his worst last week and my trip to Derbyshire was postponed. This was a mixed blessing. As some of you are aware, I have an irrational dislike of Chesterfield FC, so not having to go there was not unwelcome. That said, I now have to go there on a Tuesday evening in March which adds an extra level of risk to my plan to get to every league game this season. If anything were to derail me, it would be ironic if it was Chesterfield. Do I not like Chesterfield...

All in all it has been a busy fortnight. The eagle eyed amongst you will have seen Mr. Keane and I in the back pages of the Observer - wincing as Accrington equalised. Dale's ground sharing partners Rochdale Hornets RLFC have gone bump. Rochdale almost signed a midfielder, Jason Taylor, but at the 11th hour he decided that his interests would be better served in Rotherham - go figure. Dale have signed the highly rated young 'keeper, Frank Fielding from Blackburn on loan. Holness has gone on loan to Barrow and after my Christmas ruminations on the fate of John Shaw, it appears that Mr. Hill agrees that he needs more time - just not here. Mr. Shaw will be seeing the season out with Crawley.

...and on the subject of Mr. Hill.

I will confess to something approaching cardiac arrest as I read the news on Sky Sports that he was heading off to Walsall. Mind you, he does like the ge-ge's - so a move to the Saddlers might be appropriate. Anyway, following a statement where Mr. Hill professed his undying devotion to the Club, players, directors, fans, cleaners, stewards, clerical staff, groundsmen and catering staff - it seems he is staying. So thats that sorted then...

A combination of poor planning on my part and the lengthy queue on Roch Valley Way would mean that for the first time this season - I would miss the kick-off.

Weather:

It had rained heavily overnight meaning conditions underfoot at Spotland would be good to soft - however, the rain had cleared away today to be replaced by an impenetrable overcast. Chilly and breezy.

Food:

The world economy may be collapsing round our ears - but more worryingly my pie was cold. This really could be the end of western civilisation.

Away Support:

3 perhaps 400. Not much singing, but they compensated by greeting every refereeing decision which went against Lincoln by rending their clothing and howling their disapproval. All a bit melodramtic for my taste.

Action:

Lincoln City. The ultimate bogey team. Since my Rochdale watching debut in 1999, Dale have managed to beat the Imps just three times. Granted that no fewer than ten of the encounters in that period have ended in draws - a personal favourite of mine was the November 2001 visit of Lincoln to Spotland where Rochdale were cruising to to a comfortable 2-0 victory - only for Lincoln to score twice in injury time. In that period the Imps have racked up seven wins - including a 7-1 demolition of Rochdale one Saturday afternoon in October 2006 at Sincil Bank. I have never, ever actually seen Rochdale beat Lincoln.

The team news today for Rochdale was very encouraging though - Gary Jones was back! After almost a two month lay-off following an injury against Luton, the gaffer is back! I almost had a teary. Young Frank Fielding would take station between the sticks and the Shaker Maker - who according to those lovely folks from the London Times is one of the 50 hottest prospects in world football - would start up front partnering St. Adam. Mr. Keane has been banging on for months that Will Buckley should play as an out and out striker - Mystic Keane strikes again.

Rochdale have been very inconsistent in recent weeks. Unpredictable, fallable and at times utterly infuriating. But not today it seemed. Dale looked organised, confident and incisive. Lincoln are a good side - any side which boasts Geoff Horsefield and Anthony Elding upfront should be taken very seriously indeed - but Rochdale had the measure of them. Rundle in particular was like a fox in a chicken coop - making life for Lincoln's right-back, Frank Sinclair, a waking nightmare.

It would be Rundle around the twenty minute mark that would finally unpick the Imps well prpared defences. Having mesmerised the hapless Sinclair to the point where he was left with the nagging feeling that he could see the back of his own head, Rundle surged past him into the box where he unleashed a rasping drive. Burch in the Lincoln goal did well to parry Rundle's effort - but only as far as St. Adam. From that range there was little chance of error. 1-0 Dale!

It all looked so very assured and comfortable. Lincoln pressed, but struggled to bring Horsefield and Elding into the game. The only serious threat of the remainder of the half was dealt with by Fielding who had decided that a spell in midfield might be the ticket. Charging out of his area he cooly dispossed the Lincoln player and in combination with Ramsden the danger was cleared.

We coasted into half-time 1-0 to the good and quietly confident that this could be my day. It really could.

Golden Gamble and then onwards to the main event - the Crossbar Challenge. This really hasn't been a great success as a half time frolic. The patrons of Spotland just don't seem inclined to take part - perhaps they had watched the finally recovered video of Rochdale's Crossbar Challenge performance on Soccer AM - 1 from 6 - not too inspiring. Today Dale's Business Development Manager, Mr. Johnstone, was press ganged into taking part. Close with the first - on the button with the second. Pretty impressive for a chap in a suit. Still not as good as Kick-It-In-Bin though - can you top members of the general public trying to chip a football into a council issue black bin from five yards? I doubt it.

On the subject of games. Would you like to play 'N'Guessan Who?'.

Who wandered through the first 45 minutes on the right wing without saying boo to a goose? Who switched to the Lincoln left wing after the break? Who would single handedly tear Dale apart for the first twenty minutes of the second half?

Danny N'Guessan. That's who.

Two minutes into the second half N'Guessan unleashed a teasing ball into the area which Kennedy was compelled to clear. Unfortunately the attempted clearance sliced off his boot, past Fielding and nestled in the back of the net. 1-1.

The composed and organised Rochdale of the first 45 minutes disolved as N'Guessan ran riot. Ten minutes later he hammered a shot just wide of the post. Having got his range he repeated the trick a couple of minutes later. This time he didn't miss. 2-1 Lincoln.

I barely had time to sigh when he was afforded the time and space to have another go. The resulting effort almost shattered the upright and went out for a Rochdale throw - on the full.

Well I did say never ever. It is Lincoln afterall. But... Perhaps I should have said never, ever give in. During the Danny N'Guessan show, McEvilly and Dagnall had taken the field for Thompson and LeFondre. From this point the fight back began. Rochdale poured forward.

A towering header from McArdle, a close range effort from Dagnall, a thumping drive from McEvilly. Chance after chance came and went - and then with just minutes of regular time remaining Dagnall burst into the area, slashed the ball across the face of the goal where it was met by McEvilly. Shaking off his marker was the work of a moment, delivering the finish not much longer. 2-2!

As we entered stoppage time Dale continued to hammer at the Lincoln defences. The pick of the chances fell to Buckley, who after weaving his spell on one Lincoln defender, and then another, and another - could only smash the ball into the side netting.

2-2 it ended. Like I said - never ever...

Summary:

Two good sides. Two a piece.

Rochdale could have and probably should have lost today. The advantage which was so hard won in the first half was blown away in a one man blitz by N'Guessan in the second. However, what followed was quite remarkable. Stung into action, Dale produced one of the best periods of play I have seen this season. It was truly a joy to watch.

I'm sure people will speculate whether today represented a point won or two points lost. Considering it was Lincoln. I think it was a point won.

Turner Watch:

In my capacity as Mr. Turner's commercial manager I can exclusively confirm that he will not be joining Manchester City, whatever they offer.

17/1/09