Something happening here

Rochdale AFC 2 - 0 Grimsby Town FC

Journey:

Little things. The traffic on Roche Valley Way was a little heavier. The foot traffic on Sandy Lane was a little busier. Little things.

If you weren't looking for it - you would miss it. But it was there nonetheless.

The sense of expectation in the assembling crowd made it feel like the first home game of the season again. Except it wasn't. This is game 33. Dale are 4th - one point off the automatic promotion spots. A win today, and results permitting, Rochdale could break into the top three.

Following a great away win at Darlington midweek, the spectre of the Brentford game had been well and truly banished.

I attempted to slip into my regular parking spot - to find that access was bloked by roadworks - patrolled by a Policeman on a mountain bike... I wasn't falling for that one again. I crawled along at 10 mph and finally found a place to park - I think it was somewhere near Huddersfield.

Due to the heavy traffic and the delay in finding a parking place I was on the minutes for kick-off. As I cantered onto Pearl Street I could hear that the players were making their way onto the pitch. At something approaching a run I arrived at the Sandy Lane turnstiles.

...and then something very odd happened.

A man detached himself from the milling crowd and blocked my path. He was saying something - I just couldn't understand him.

'Say again?''A ticket. Do you need a ticket for the game?'

Now I have been coming to Spotland for a goodly while - but I have never seen tout's before. Something really is happening here.

He said he was waiting for his mate who hadn't shown up. I could have the ticket for a tenner.

Either his story was true or he was the worst ticket tout in the world. Either way, it saved me £4. Which was nice.

As the game got underway I sidled into my regular spot, Messers Keane and Mitchell were already on station.

Weather:

Rochdale weather.

Food:

The more observant of you will have noticed that I have been in a public house - or two. In my very limited experience of licenced premisies I have come across the concept of 'guest ales' - naturally I didn't try any of them - strictly mineral water for me, as you know. However, I was somewhat taken aback that the Sandy Lane Patisserie is offering 'guest pies'. This weeks 'guest pie' was cottage pie. Very tempting.

However, as I am on a diet, I had a Ryvita. A meat and potato flavoured Ryvita.

Away Support:

A decent turnout from the fishier end of Lincolnshire. 300 or so. It has been a tough season to be a Grimsby fan. At the start of today's encounter the Mariners find themselves flirting with the drop zone. They wouldn't have much to cheer about today.

Action:

A quiet news week this week. The big story being Darlo's slide into administration the day after Dale took all three points away from the Darlington Arena. With administration comes an automatic ten point deduction which dropped the Quakers from 5th to 11th in the table.

Dale would start with the team which started against Darlington - save for the exchange of Keltie for Jonah in central midfield. Based on an eyewitness account from my roving reporter, Mr. Jones, Jonah was in the gym on Friday and seemed to be OK. Hopefully his exclusion today was just precautionary.

At various stages this season I have made reference to Staedler and Waldorf. I should probably explain this for you. Staedler and Waldorf were two grumpy old men in the Muppet Show - they were puppets. In every episode they sat in a box at the back of the theatre and loudly criticised everything the other muppets did. Their catch phrase being, 'You call this a show?!'

Sadly the Staedler and Waldorf I have been refering to are not cuddly puppets. They are two old blokes who stand behind me - who moan, complain, criticise and generally carp about every aspect of Rochdale's performance - at every home game. I could move I suppose - but it's the principle of the thing.

Even by their own high standards - their performance today was literally unbelievable.

'Rubbish Rochdale!'

'Useless Rochdale!'

'Clueless Rochdale!'

'No idea Rochdale!'

'Pointless Rochdale!'

'Wasteful Rochdale!'

... did I mention 'Useless Rochdale!' - oh, yes I did. So did they, again and again and again.

What was unbelievable about their performance was that Dale were in the lead after five minutes courtesy of a massive deflection from a Rundle shot following a mazy solo run by Mr. Keane's favoured left winger. 1-0 Dale!

On twelve minutes Dale doubled their advantage courtesy of a breakaway run from St. Adam who slotted the ball neatly past an incredulous Henderson in the Mariner's goal. 2-0 Dale!

...but Staedler and Waldorf ground on, and on, and on.

Sometime later Mr. Keane turned to me and muttered through clenched teeth, 'Thats it! One of us is going to have to do time!' Fortunately, we didn't get to drawing straws. Mr. Kettle's whistle indicated the conclusion of the first period.

Apart from the opening fifteen minutes, the first half had not been a brilliant spectacle. Having scored their goals Dale seemed more than happy to contain Grimsby. Grimsby bustled but created only one chance of note - Forbes forcing Fielding to tip his goal bound effort north of the crossbar.

Half time. Small boys playing seven aside, Golden Gamble and then a surprise appearance from Jon Bon Jovi in the crossbar challenge. Like I said, there's something happening here.

As it turned out, it wasn't his Jovi-ness. It was a lady with a rather extravagant perm. Disappointingly neither of her efforts got more than a foot off the ground. Desmond the Dragon had a go - but could not replicate his form from earlier in the season.

At the start of the second half, Mr. Mitchell predicted a seven goal thriller. He always does.

However, it was not to be. Rochdale were quite happy to defend and then break when the opportunity presented itself. Grimsby had most of the ball but in spite of the introduction of the rather fabulously monikered Akpa-Akpro on 61 minutes, failed to produce a serious effort on the Dale goal.

Messers Keane, Mitchell and I spent our time checking the other results - two particularly caught the eye - Bury were losing and Wycombe were drawing.

Staedler and Waldorf continued their stream of criticism.

Mr. Kettle whistled and it was all over. 2-0 Dale.

Summary:

There really is something happening here. The game was over in under 15 minutes. The other 75 minutes were just there for the look of the thing. A thoroughly clinical performance from Dale.

As the final whistle blew I made my way to the ticket office to get my ticket for the Bury game next weekend. Having collected it, Messers Keane, Mitchell and I dropped into the Ratcliffe Arms.

Over a sparkling mineral water we watched the classified results and then the league tables.

Premiership - United 1,000,000 points clear with 16 games in hand, Championship - don't care, League 1 - care slightly less. As the graphic for the bottom of League 1 faded - something happened. It started as a whisper, it rose to a murmur, a rumble, a growl, a thundering roar - the League 2 table appeared, Dale were 2nd - and the roof came off!

I looked at the table. I looked again. I waited for the tables to go round once more - and had another look. The table still showed Dale in second place. Around me the chatter included one word more than any other - no not 'typical' - it begins with 'P'. The word Dale fans seldom say or even dare think - and in fairness have rarely had reason to say or think.

I looked at the table again - still the same. Still second. Then Mr. Keane said a new word. It begins with 'C'. More commonly associated with Manchester United. Never even dreamt of by Dale fans.

There's something happening here...

Turner Watch:

Mr. Turner is in pole position to become Paris Hilton's British best friend. TTYN.

28/02/09