Thriller

Rochdale AFC 3 - 0 Bradford City FC

Journey:

Ill.

Of all the things I had thought of which might derail my plan to get to every game this season, being ill wasn't one of them.

A day of guzzling Lemsip's, whilst swaddled in a duvet with the fire on full belt didn't seem to have helped. To make matters worse I was supposed to be partnering Mr. Culshaw in the commentary box for tonights encounter with Bradford - the problem being that I had pretty much lost my voice. At 5pm and with no improvement in sight I made the fateful call to Mr. Culshaw. I was going to have to back out.

So this is where it ends then. A spritely 35 - and then fall on my own stumps. I just didn't see it ending like this...

I was mooching around the kitchen making yet more Lemsip and feeling very sorry for myself when Lady Luck appeared in the doorway.

'Can I come to the game tonight?'

Not 'are you going to the game tonight, can I come?' It is simply assumed that I am going.

What the hell was I thinking?! Not going to the game! I must have been delirious or something!

Having put on every sweater I own, extra socks, cardigan, hat, scarf, gloves, big coat and having downed my mug of Lemsip in one - I was back in the game.

With the eastern horde on the way over the Pennines parking would be at a premium in the lanes and layby's of Greave. So, with the big hand on the 12 and the little hand on the 7, Lady Luck and I set forth for Spotland.

Weather:

Now here is a funny thing. As I set off for Spotland I was sure that I could see the last vestiges of the day clinging onto the western horizon. Could winter really be almost over?

An almost cloudless black sky hung over Rochdale tonight, illuminated by a blindingly bright full moon.

Allegedly, the full moon can do funny things to people. What it does to the sea is not a matter of debate - tides are a fact - and people are mostly made of water so it seems plausible that the moon could be pulling our strings as well. I suppose the question for tonight is what effect would it have on League 2 footballers? Provided it didn't involve heavy make-up, a catchy pop tune and dancing (endless dancing) I was prepared to watch and learn.

Food:

Water and dust.

Pies are made from water and dust - right? Well sort of.

Considering the possible effects of the full moon on things with a substantial water content, I am pleased to report that my pie behaved itself. No crotch grabbing or screaming 'Shamon!' as far as I could detect.

Away Support:

Last season Bradford brought a lot of fans. This season they brought more. Many, many more.

The result at Gigg Lane had dropped Dale from 3rd to 5th - with Bradford jumping up into 4th spot following their 5-0 rout of Aldershot at the weekend. My guess is that 2500 of the Bradford faithful had made the trip over the Pennines for what they hoped to be a romp into the automatic promotion spots.

As for Dale fans (in spite of my bringing Lady Luck, Mr. Keane bringing Keane jnr. as his birthday treat, Mr. Mitchell making his now customary appearance and somewhere in the Pearl Street Stand Playboy Dan and Mr. 'Iceman' McCabe) there couldn't have been more than a couple of thousand.

Consequently we were treated to a seemingly never ending roar of 'WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SEE A CROWD!!!' from the Bradford fans. How loud were they? Well - the music on the Spotland tannoy system is usually ear splitting - tonight you couldn't even hear it. Does that help?

Action:

Late results: I have been somewhat remiss in my coverage of Littleborough's finest in recent weeks. So for those of you following the progess of the Mighty Yellows the results you missed were a 5-5 draw in a friendly with table topping Chadderton last Saturday and a 4-2 league victory the week before. In both cases the Yellows trailed for much of the game but rallied magnificently. They remain 2nd in their league.

Team news: Gary Jones injury woes continue, Chris Dagnall is suspended, Ciaran Toner's injury at Bury would also rule him out and Adam Rundle would be unavailable due to Mrs. Rundle making little Rundle's. This considered, changes were inevitable. McArdle would return at centre half replacing Ramsden. Keltie would start in central midfield - accompanied by - The Lesser Spotted Mark Jones. There really could be something in this full moon stuff.

Thompson and Buckley would take station on the wings with Thorpe and St. Adam up front. The strangest change was the introduction of one David Flitcroft onto the subs bench. Rochdale's assistant manager hasn't seen a competitive game in a good few years - although I suspect he has seen a few substantial dinners. Full moon - I'm not sure I need any more proof.

After the slightly indifferent performance at Gigg Lane it was far from clear which Rochdale would turn up tonight. I needn't have worried. As soon as Mr. Mathieson blew the whistle, Dale launched themselves at the Bantams. The first twenty minutes were almost embarrasingly one sided.

Jones and Keltie hectored and harried a surprisingly ponderous Bradford midfield while Buckley slashed at the Yorkshiremen's defences with seeming impunity. Corner followed corner. Chance followed chance. Only frenzied Bradford defending and a few slices of luck - such as McArdle's uncontested header flying straight into the Bantams keeper, Evans, hands - kept Dale from taking the lead.

However, the period of Dale dominance did not last. Having looked disjointed and awkward so far Bradford pulled themselves together. Dale old boy Steve Jones surging runs down the Bantams left causing Wiseman no small amount of concern. Peter Thorne having broken clear of his marker twice forced excellent saves from Fielding.

The resurgence from Bradford wasn't to last. Rochdale re-applied themselves and played out the half very much in control. In spite of what had been a very exciting 45 minutes of football 0-0 it remained.

So, Mark Jones. Well I never did. I expect this was some kind of cunning plan by Messers. Hill and Flitcroft. Jones proved to be something of a secret weapon. Not the tallest by any means - but can that lad run? He never stopped moving and was absolutely fearless in the challenge. With only just a hint of irony, I am bound to say - what a find!

Second half. Bradford started much better, once again forcing Fielding into a desperate save from a Greame Lee header. The Bantams could probably count themselves as being somewhat unlucky by this stage. Rochdale had produced more efforts on goal - but Bradford's had been the clearer cut. But for the gymnastics of Fielding Rochdale could have been 3-0 down without serious complaint.

However, it was somewhere around here that the full moon began to exert it's influence.

The Shaker Maker had been on the end of some fairly rough handling in the first half - what would follow in the second half was truly X-rated. Bradford degenerated into a pack of kill crazy zombies - with the sole aim of kicking Buckley out of the game, and possibly the ground.

In total their efforts against our Will would yeild three yellow cards and see the Bantams assistant manager banished to the stands for arguing that his players 'tactics' were somehow within the laws/spirit of the game.

Around 49 minutes The Shaker Maker shaped to run down the left touchline - to be swatted (that is the best way I can describe it) by Arnison. Mark Jones delivered the resulting free kick, which found McArdle loitering on the edge of the six yard box. A thumping header. Evans barely moved. 1-0 Dale!

Ten minutes later and Thompson's flick on from Jones corner was diverted to safety by Conlon. Unfortunately he chose to do this manually. Mr. Mathieson made what Mr. Mitchell described as 'a very good spot', and duly indicated - the spot. St. Adam stepped up to perform the honours. Evans left hand only succeeded in diverting the ball into the roof of the net. 2-0 Dale!

Around 75 minutes St. Adam drove into the Bradford box from the right touchline, beat the first man only to be kicked out of his boots by Clarke. Clarke protested that he had got the ball - Mr. Mathieson felt this had been an unforseen side effect of his plan and once again pointed to the spot. St. Adam took his mark. This time Evans hand played no part. 3-0 Dale!

By now the eastern horde were flooding to the exits of the Wilbutts Lane Stand.

As the clock wound down the home fans amused themselves by demanding that Mr. Fltcroft come on and play out the remaining minutes. 'WE WANT FLICKER!, WE WANT FLICKER!'.  He grinned broadly - but decided that discretion was probably the better part of valour.

Summary:

The full moon is probably as good an explanation as you will get for Bradfords performance tonight. Bradford are a good side. They made pretty short work of Rochdale at Valley Parade early in the season. They started badly, recovered well, were unlucky not to be in the lead and then descended into a brutal variety of anarchy - which was totally beneath a team of their quality. They were lucky to finish the game with all eleven men on the field.

As for Rochdale. It was the perfect antidote to the disappointment of the weekend. A fantastic team effort with Jones, Buckley and McArdle shining just as brightly as the moon.

As I marched back to the car I over heard that Bury had drawn. Rochdale were back up to 3rd and people around me were saying the 'P' word again. Suddenly my cold didn't seem half as bad.

Shamon.

Turner Watch:

Mr. Turner will be 'Doing something funny for money' on Friday.

It may or may not be something to do with Comic Relief.

10/03/09