Yin and Yang

Rochdale AFC 1 - 2 Rotherham United FC

Journey:

It must be spring. As I rolled past Rochdale Town Hall I could see daffodil's in the municipal flower beds. Earlier today I even saw daffodil's outside Aldi. Spring has come to Gods Country. The dark and weary yin of winter is slowly giving way to the bright and energetic yang of summer. It seems only weeks ago that I was fretting over the effects of arctic conditions on the 101 Project and suddenly - Daffodil's. Yin and yang.

On the subject of bright and energetic, as I parked up near the Town Hall, Mr. Turner appeared.

Mr. Turner would once again be joining the match commentary team on Roche Valley Radio along with Mr. Culshaw today. My task for this afternoon was to chaffeur him from his place of employ (just a little something to fill the gap between his numerous media projects) to Spotland. After some discussion of who got to ride shotgun between Mr. Turner and Lady Luck - Mr. Turner slid into the back seat looking suitably chastened.

At a little after 2pm I deposited Mr. Turner with Mr. Culshaw in the Studds Bar, said hello to Playboy Dan and watched Manchester United have an uncharacteristic stumble on the big screen TV. Still, it was only against Liverpool. Probably no harm done eh?

There was a time when I could have been drawn in by the gaudy oompah of Premiership football. It is very seductive afterall. Not these days though.

I don't hate the Premiership - I just don't really care about it. Manchester United vs. Liverpool - or - Rochdale vs. Rotherham. Pole's apart, but part of the same whole. Yin and Yang. I know which one gets my vote.

Weather:

Through the winter Rochdale has mostly lurked under an impenetrable shroud of grey murk. Today however we were treated to big fluffy white clouds, patches of blue sky and occasional sunshine. I didn't even need my hat and gloves - it was warm. Well warmish. OK then - not freezing.

Food:

I feel a drum roll may be in order. Today's guest pie is! Chicken and Mushroom.

However, I wasn't to be diverted from my purpose by the marketing blitz which accompanied the new kid in town (a sign written in black marker pen on a sheet of A4). I remained faithful to the church of meat and potato.

Away Support:

There had been word of a second invasion from the east. According to the message boards there was talk that Rotherham would dwarf the influx of Yorkshire folk we saw last Tuesday.

That's the problem with 'talk'. It is just that. Talk.

5 maybe 600. Fortunately they were nowhere near as rowdy as their West Riding cousins. Mrs. Eden-Maughan remarked after Tuesday's game that she could hear the 'Bradford Massive' at Tesco's - that is easily a mile and a half away.

Action:

Disappointingly Bradford's creative interpretation of the rules of the game meant that a cut, battered and bruised Will Buckley would miss today's encounter. However, much to Mr. Keane's delight 'Papa' Rundle would take his place on the left wing. Other than that - as you were.

Having seen Dale despatch the Bantams with such zest and elan on Tuesday night I was really looking forward to today. I am not - nor have ever been a fan of the 'Rotherham Method'. Essentially this requires ten very large men to kick you half senseless and then celebrate in the style of Brazil winning the World Cup when they dump your concussed goalkeeper and the ball in the back of the net.

I remember dimly a tie versus Rotherham years back, when having pulled off such a feat in the dying moments of the game that the then Rotherham player, Leo Fortune-West, ran the length of the field to kiss the badge in front of the Sandy. I also remember a rather elderly member of the Sandy faithful marching onto the pitch to remonstrate with Mr. Fortune-West. There is something truly quite wonderful about a portly old man giving almost 7ft of professional footballer the 'waggy finger'. Magical.

I was really hoping for a repeat of Tuesday...

It was quickly apparent that I would be disappointed. The zest and elan of Tuesday were gone. Dale looked laboured and somewhat like they would rather be somewhere else. The highlights - such as they were, are as follows: Rotherham striker Drew Broughton cut his head in a challenge with McArdle and was subbed off. Rotherham's Ryan Taylor had a shot at goal - which Fielding saved.

Mr. Turner's texted summary of the first period is sadly unprintable - suffice is to say he was unhappy with the performance from Dale.

That said, it was not a complete waste of time. Mr. Keane was able to provide myself, Mr. Mitchell and Lady Luck with a detailed summary of this morning's 4-3 win by the Mighty Yellow's over Seedfield Boys. The Yellows remain 2nd in the league behind Chadderton.

It has taken almost a whole season, but the penny seems to have finally dropped. Mr. Golden Gamble did his thing at half time and then moved onto the more pressing issue of stamping down divot's.

No cross bar challenge this week. Will it ever return?

Could we see a return of 'kick it in the bin'? Who can say - but as Mr. Golden Gamble dilligently went about his stamping duties I am pretty sure I saw him mutter, 'hollyhocks to the Grassmere, Falinge'. Aparrently his gardening responsibilities extend beyond the confines of Spotland Stadium - if that is indeed what he said...

Fortified by the fact that Rochdale are a 'second half team' we plunged onward. Dale did perk up a little at the start of the second period but produced little of note. On fifty minutes the old spector of the early second half concession reared it's head once more.

A seemingly aimless ball into the box found Rueben Reid with his back to goal. Wiseman was in position to ensure he couldn't turn and Stanton seemed to be ready to whip the ball away from him. Sadly he completely missed the challenge. As Stanton sailed past, Reid turned and lashed the ball into the bottom corner. 1-0 Rotherham.

Were Dale stung into action? Not really. Rochdale pressed but found a stout wall of Yorkshiremen diverting them from their objective. Thompson and Rundle were replaced by Higginbotham (newly returned from Accrington) and Adam's. It didn't seem to make much difference.

Around 70 minutes I grumbled to Mr. Keane that I could see Rochdale conceding again. I really should stop this - because on 71 minutes they did.

A thoroughly un-Rotherham-like sequence of flicks and tricks sprang Ryan Taylor free, who having outpaced Kennedy rifled his finish past a flailing Fielding from the edge of the 18 yard area. 2-0 Rotherham.

Were Dale stung into action? Well, yes. Just four minutes later Dale produced their only piece of genuine quality in the whole game.

Adam's drove in from the left, faked, shimmied and beguiled his way past a bamboozled Tonge and flicked in a tidy cross. St. Adam finding himself totally unmarked leapt to meet it and powered a header past the static Millers keeper. 2-1.

With nearly twenty minutes to go it seemed that Rochdale had finally decided to give it a go. A draw - maybe even a win could be on the cards.

Around 80 minutes the resurgent Rochdale were well and truly derailed. A Rotherham move down the left had seen what looked like a pretty clear handling offence. Mr. Russell waved play-on. The ball was popped in to the box where Ryan Taylor duly collapsed under challenge. Penalty.

From my vantage point I couldn't see what happened next. But I am told that Fielding took a leaf from Bruce 'Spaghetti Legs' Grobbelaar's book - and then some.

Not content with the wobbly legs and the waving which Bruce has made so popular in the modern game - he was also pointing vigorously to his right. Kind of 'put it there if you dare'. Reuben Reid cracked.

His penalty slammed against the bar and his follow up saw both Fielding and the ball in the back of the net - well I did say. Mr. Russell ajudged that this was foul play. 2-1 it remained.

Dale had a spirited attempt to get back into the game - but highly professional defending from the Millers held them firmly in check.

Summary:

After Tuesday's yang-fest - this was pretty much all yin. Dale have played a lot of games over the last few weeks - including the bizarre refereeing display vs. Brentford, the deluge at Barnet and the derby game at Gigg Lane. Today they looked lethargic and a bit disinterested. Considering the jaw dropping spectacle on Tuesday, today was very disappointing.

However, with Bury only summoning up a draw against ten man Lincoln - Dale stay third.

Yin and Yang - probably.

Turner Watch:

According to Mr. Culshaw, Mr. Turner was like a young Andy Gray this afternoon.

Sadly, minus the 'magic' pen.

14/03/09