The sleeper must awaken

Littleborough Yellows FC 6 - 1 Radcliffe Jnrs FC

and in other results:

Morecambe FC 1 - 1 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

I doubt there are many more spectacular footballing venues than the pitch at Hare Hill Park. Surrounded on all sides by the muscular Pennines, even on a dreary day like today it is quite awe inspiring. The reason for this departure from my regular Saturday morning routine of supermarkets, DIY superstores and houseware emporia? Keane jnr would be taking station between the sticks for Littleborough Yellows in their third league encounter of the season.

In what was a very one sided encounter the Yellows would run in five before the interval during which time Keane jnr would only be pressed into action once to deal with a teasing cross. Littleborough's number's 8, 15 and 3 ran riot through the Juniors tattered defences.

The second half was by comparison a more even encounter. The Yellows struck early to further extend their advantage. However, the introduction of Radcliffe's number 14 meant that Littleborough's defence would have more to think about - but the Yellow's number 5 in particular excelled in a superbly organised defensive unit. Keane jnr would only be seriously called upon twice in the half. Once to save superbly from a fizzing Radcliffe freekick - and once to collect the ball from the net after a late Juniors penalty - which in fairness he did get his fingertips to.

6-1 Littleborough. A great game to watch.

With a muddied Keane jnr safely deposited with his very proud mother; Mr. Keane, Mrs. Eden-Maughan and I set off for the seaside.

M62, M60, M61, M6 - around an hour and a half allowing for an over extended viewing of Morecambe's treacherous one way system - and we were there.

It is a known fact that small children fall asleep in cars. Likewise, the elderly are also known to 'rest their eye's' on long car journeys. Mr. Keane does not technically fit into either category - but none the less he spent most of the journey dozing in the front seat. The brief interludes of his wakefulness mostly involved him sucking his teeth at every track my I-Pod produced.

Weather:

Grim.

Food:

Chilli cheesburger - £3. One mouthful and I was south of the border. I liked it so much that moments later I was back for another. Ay carumba!

On the other hand, Mr. Keane felt the need to express his reservations about the bread buns. Apparently, 'dry'. As I said earlier - not 'technically' elderly - but I expect he'll be telling me he fought a war for my 'sort' any day now...

Last week at Lincoln we discovered that Mr. Turner can produce Twix's at will. After eighteen years together - I discovered today that my wife can do the same trick. With a twist. She can also produce Snickers and Mars Bars. I seem to be at the eye of a confectionary conjuring storm. Help!

Ground:

Two modern, covered terraces at either end with an open terrace down one side. The thousand or so Dale faithful who made the journey north were safely ensconced under cover at one end.

Some weeks ago I watched a program about a wealthy American scouring the mountainous wastelands of Turkey for Noah's Ark. His efforts were sadly misguided. Said Ark is acting as the main stand at Christie Park. I will drop the wealthy American an e-mail when I get a moment.

Action:

Last Friday had been rather disappointing. Dale had done almost everything right - but with minutes to go a split second's indecision had cost two precious points. As shockingly poor as the referee had been - he wasn't responsible. Dale had done it to themselves.

Morecambe had experienced a nightmare of their own last week - an untrammled demolition at the hands of Gillingham. Perhaps Dale could capitalise on their shaken confidence and get back to winning ways?

Mr. Hill once more elected to make changes. Wiseman returned to right full-back and Joe Thompson replaced the Shaker Maker on the right of midfield. Toner retained his spot in the middle of the park.

After slow starts in recent weeks Dale got into their stride quickly and took full advantage of the space Morecambe seemed happy to allow them. Chances rapidly came Rochdale's way and only spirited Eric's defending prevented early work for the scorer.

It wasn't a surprise when Dale took the lead on twenty minutes. Well - that isn't quite true. It was a great surprise to me - as I was making my way to the prefab toilets and consequently missed it.

However, based on Mr. Keane's comments - Thompson had latched onto a cross from the left and guided it past the Morecambe keeper - Dagnall arriving at pace to conclude the matter. 1-0 Dale.

The balance of the half was all Rochdale. However, in spite of all the pressure and a frenzied interlude where the Eric's keeper, Roche was forced to make four consecutive reaction saves - Dale did not extend their advantage. Still, there is always the second half - we are a second half team afterall.

A big red cat. The Morecambe mascot is a big red cat. It is called Christie. Large feline's haven't been common in the Morecambe area for some time - so perhaps he came off the Ark when it landed - although that would lead you to believe that there is another large red cat somewhere in the area. Concerning for the locals.

Having got through a long and slightly over complicated variant on 'Open the Box' the second half got underway.

I expect that the Rochdale squad were still attempting to understand the rules of 'Open the Box' - or were concerned where the other big red cat might be - because when USS Howe picked up the ball on 47 minutes - no-one moved. A dash down the touchline and decent cross gave Ryan Taylor the straightforward task of heading past the unprotected Russell. 1-1.

Stung into action Dale roared forward - but in contrast to the first half, Morecambe did not give Rochdale the same amount of time or space. Rochdale seemed to have the better chances but the finishing gremlins were back again - even the introduction of Buckley and later LeFondre couldn't break the deadlock.

Another frustrating away trip. 1-1.

Summary:

I had a lot of time to mull over todays game on the way home. Mr. Keane and Mrs. Eden-Maughan slept most of the way from Morecambe to Rochdale.

Thompson once again impressed, Buckley twinkled sporadically, Dagnall on the scoresheet, Jones and Toner looking good in the middle of the park. Sadly Stanton was obliged to leave the field shortly after the equaliser following a heavy fall on his back. Fingers crossed that it was not as bad as it looked.

Watching Rochdale is a deeply irksome business at the moment. They play nice stuff, they create chances - good chances - but they struggle to put them away and have a worrying knack of letting teams back 'in' when they should be very firmly 'out'.

There is quality in this side, we simply haven't seem the best of them yet.

Rather like my passengers this afternoon - Rochdale don't seem fully awake yet.

Just like my passengers this afternoon - the sleeper must awaken.

Turner Watch:

A casualty of the world's deeping economic crisis.

18/10/08