BE HERE NOW

Rola Cola Sponsored English League Two

Rochdale AFC 3 - 0 Macclesfield Town FC

Journey

It's 1pm there or there abouts.  I'm sat in the Studds Bar with Mr. Keane and Keane jnr.  The Bradford game is playing on the big screen.  It's been on for about half an hour.  Including our little group there are maybe twenty people watching.  With no audio commentary, the sound down low and just the clink of glasses and muttered conversation to fill the big empty space - you might be forgiven for thinking it was a wake.  

Odd.  

I was there on Tuesday night when nearly 700 voices shook Valley Parade.  The night that Dale went top of the league.  I had thought the Studds would be packed to the rafters with those who weren't lucky enough to get over to 'that Yorkshire' to watch the game. 

I'm not going all Dale-ier than thou on you - people have stuff to do on a Saturday - I know this.  I just thought it would be like Tuesday Night all over again.  I suppose I was a bit disappointed. 

As we watched Dale romp to a highly deserved win, the conversation turned to January.  It is no secret that due to the club's knife edge finances that Dale will proabably be forced into selling at least one player when the transfer window opens.  This current Rochdale team is the best line-up that Mr. Keane and I have ever seen - to see it flogged off to the highest bidder, especially after Tuesday night - would be heartbreaking.

So, what can be done to stop it.  Buy Goldbond tickets?  Maybe.  Buy Christmas raffle tickets? Perhaps.  Buy a replica shirt? Sure, why not.  The real answer is however astonishingly simple - consider this:

Blackburn. Population: 105,085. Average attendance at Ewood Park: 25,000 (est)

Bolton.  Population: 139,403.  Average attendance at the Reebok: 21,888

Burnley.  Population: 73,500.  Average attendance at Turf Moor: 20,313

Oldham.  Population: 103,544.  Average attendance at Boundry Park: 5,258

Rochdale. Population: 95,796.  Average attendance at Spotland: 2,723*

Even the Latics can command 5% of their local population.  Dale manage less than 3%.  Just imagine 5% of the population of Rochdale turning up at Spotland.  Average attendance 4790.  An extra 2000 or so souls for home games.  Based on a guess, assume the average ticket is £16 - thats an extra £32,000 for each home game.  23 home games = £736,000 extra per season .  An extra £736,000 per season = no fire sale every January.

You want goals?  Dale have scored 10 in their last five home league games.  The football is a joy to watch, the pies are awesome and there is plenty of room.  7,000 people turned up for the play-off semi-final vs. Darlington.  17,000 went to Wembley.  We know you are out there...

People of Rochdale - BE HERE NOW!

As if on cue - Mr. Keane's latest convert to the cause, Mr. Calman, arrived.    

* No, I don't know these figures off the cuff.  I used Wikipedia and Soccerbase when I got home - just like everybody else...  

Weather 

Rochdale weather - cold and grey - it poured down later.

Food  

After months of drought - the storm broke - meat and potato pie, times two.  As I said - awesome.

Away Support

The minibus waited through the whole game - at no extra charge - which was nice.

Dale aren't the only ones struggling to get bums on seats.

News

Done a Delia. Rochdale Chairman, Chris Dunphy, was on the Official Rochdale site in the week asking the simple question - well, where are you then?!  It was stirring stuff - but he didn't quote loads of fascinating stats about northern towns or tie in an Oasis album title.  So I expect that no-one paid any attention.

The idiot lantern shineth.  The Rochdale vs. Bury game has been moved to the evening of Monday 1st February 2010 to allow those nice folks at Sky (and more importantly their lovely cash) to show the game, live on the telly box.  Expect more coverage of old men eating pies and patronizing remarks about dark, satanic mills.

You Yellows? If you were wondering why there has been no coverage of the Littleborough Yellows in a while - it's because they haven't played in over a month due to waterlogged pitches.  Good job we've got the gloal warming, isn't it...  

Action

Your team for today:

GK: Heaton

Def: Kennedy(T), Stanton, Dawson, Wiseman

Mid: Atkinson, Taylor, Kennedy(J), Higginbotham

For: Dagnall, O'Grady

Bench: Taberner, McArdle, Flynn, Hogan, Toner, Jones, Glover

Apart from the enforced change of Thompson for Higginbotham, caused by the young winger's injury on Tuesday night, it was pretty much as you were for Dale.

Top of the league Dale face off against a Macclesfield side who haven't won a game in weeks.  It was a similar situation for last season's visit of the Silkmen.  Dale weren't top - but they were coming off the back of a run of good wins - then a gritty performance from a similarly struggling Macc side saw the men of Cheshire come away with an unlikely but deserved point.  Long and short - the visit of Macc Town had 'unfortunate slip up' written all over it.  Still, Dale had been top for a few days - it was good while it lasted.

The secret of Macc's success last time around was the towering presence of Nat Brown.  This time the Silkmen fielded the equally titanic Ricky Sappleton and Hamza Bencherief as well as Brown.  The presence of these three giants certainly seemed to be causing Dale some discomfort in the opening exchanges.  Rochdale had chances including an oh so nearly for Dagnall from about a yard, but Macc were firmly holding their ground.  The opening quarter of an hour was pretty inconclusive.

In the next fifteen minutes both Sappleton and Bencherief left the field.  Sappleton, following a ill-judged challenge from Stanton left him hobbling.  Stanton justly went in the book for his trouble.  Bencherief, afyer what looked like a pretty inoccuous challenge from Jason Kennedy left him writhing in agony.  He was stretchered off after some delay.  Kennedy, probably harshly, would also go in Mr. Cook's book.

The enforced changes clearly upset the Macc game plan.  Within minutes - Dale had taken the lead.  Some muscular forward play from O'Grady disposessed a dithering Tremarco near the touchline.  The resulting cross was perfect, Atkinson's close range finish was clinical.  1-0 Dale!

Three minutes later Dale doubled their lead.  A surging run from Higginbotham produced a slightly wayward pass which Brisley seemed to have well covered - but his clearance cannoned off O'Grady and flew into the area where an oddly positioned Scott Wiseman produced a centre forward's finish from close range.  2-0 Dale!      

With Higginbotham running the defenders ragged and Macc finding no real answer to O'Grady's strength and movement - more goals seemed likely.  But in spite of a flurry of attempts in the closing minutes - 2-0 it remained.

During half time it finally dawned on me that something was a bit wrong.  Precisely what kit were Dale wearing today?  Shorts and socks from the home kit - with the purple away shirt.  A quick ask around the press box revealed that Mr. Cook had felt that Dale's stylish black and blue stripes would clash with Macc's wasp inspired ensemble.  The fact that it took me 45 minutes to spot it is a bit of a worrier though.  Can a tweed hat and an inexhaustible supply or Werther's Originals be far away?

The half sometimes known as second was a more measured affair.  Dale seemed happy enough to hold Macc at bay and counter when the opportunity presented itself.  That said, things were pretty uneventful until around seventy minutes when Shaun Brisley's already unfortunate afternoon get a whole lot worse.  After Dagnall had released O'Grady at the edge of the area - Brisley dragged him to earth and Mr. Cook once again produced his book - after indicating that Mr. Brisley could get a head start on the post match bath situation.

The most recent of Dale's special guest stars, Danny Glover, came on for Dagnall on seventy five and almost scored with his first significant touch.  However, his volley from Tom Kennedy's cross flew straight into the arms of Johnny Brain.

Just when it seemed that we were done - Atkinson lashed a cross into the Macc area where for the third time an unmarked Dale player loitered.  This time it was Taylor - there has clearly been some shooting practice on Bowlee this last week - the finish was immaculate.  3-0 Dale!

There was barely time to restart before Mr. Cook closed procedings.

Speak Your Brains

Your cast for today: Me (Messers Keane & Calman had parties to go to and need to rush off to get their frocks on)

No Slip up this afternoon.  An almost surgical performance.  Good to see Higginbotham in the side and playing well.  O'Grady was pretty well unstopable - his man of the match award was well deserved.

It did seem that Dale might open a gap of four points to second place at one point this afternoon - but Bournemouth picked up a win through a Dunfield own goal against Shrewsbury.  Dale stay top by one point - but are now seven points clear of fourth placed Notts County.

People of Rochdale. If not you - who?  If not now - when?  BE HERE NOW...  

Strange days indeed

Macclesfield Town FC 0 - 1 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

"Of course I didn't take my wife to see Rochdale as an anniversary present. It was her birthday.

Would I have got married in the football season? Anyway, it was Rochdale reserves."

Bill Shankly

Like Mr. Shankly I also had the good sense to avoid getting married during the football season. Although unlike Mrs. Shankly, it wasn't Mrs. Eden-Maughan's birthday today - you may recall I went through that performance in the midst of trying to get to Accrington. No. Today is Valentine's day - so I took her to watch Rochdale's first team - at Macclesfield.

Shankly 0 - 1 Eden-Maughan.

However, no trip out with Mrs. Eden-Maughan excludes some element of shopping. So I took her to the club shop at Spotland. I bought her a scarf. Well I gave her the money for a scarf - and then stood outside chatting to Mr. Culshaw and Mr. Brookes.

With Mrs. Eden-Maughan suitably lavished with gifts - she got a pencil case with the change - we set off to collect Mr. Keane and England's future No.1.

The trip to the Moss Rose was enlivened by Mr. Keane recounting the deeds of The Mighty Yellow's in this morning's tie with Seedfield Boys; ably abetted by Keane jr. In what sounded like a 'lively' encounter (there was some unpleasantness at half time - not between the players - between the dads) the sons of Rochdale prevailed over the sons of Bury - 3-2. An omen?

Maybe...

Getting to Macc is never a pleasant business. It is in one of the few bits of England which is nowhere near a motorway. There are several ways to get there - they are all rubbish and take ages. Today it took nearly an hour and a half.

Weather:

Due to a quirk of fate Macclesfield's ground, Moss Rose, is the football ground (aside of Spotland) I have visited most. In the days before Accrington and Bury joined us in League 2 - Macc was Rochdale's local derby. On virtually everyone of those occasions I have been drenched or frozen - usually both.

Therefore it was with no small degree of trepidation that I watched a fine drizzle sweep my windscreen as I parked up. As I arrived in the away end I was greeted by Playboy Dan and Amancalledshaun.

'Looks like rain'.

It did - but it didn't. Instead we were treated to the impending threat of foul weather - an oppressive overcast accompanied by a breezeless calm. It looked like it was planning something - possibly a rain of fishes.

Around 1000 Rochdalian faces (including a battalion strength detachment of the Noisy Boys) would spend as much time watching the sky as they did watching the game over the next two hours.

Food:

I have had volcanic pie - Rotherham. Burnt pie - Gillingham. Wet pie - Port Vale. Various pie - Chester.

Today marked a new landmark. Air pie.

Two bites and I hadn't even got to the filling.

Mrs. Eden-Maughan and Mr. Keane had the pasty - delightful, apparently.

Ground:

Moss Rose. Roll it around in your mind. It conjours up an image of hanging baskets, small sandwiches - with the crusts cut off, a quaint old pub - probably with Morris Dancers outside, straw hats and the gentle drone of dragon flies on warm summer afternoons.

It is nothing like that...

At all...

In any way.

Action:

News. Well after the non-event that was the transfer window, not much. Higginbotham has gone back to Accrington on loan. The FA has launched a competition called 'Get On' which will reward the best football chants in the English league's. I have entered my own personal favourite - 'Dale!' - fingers crossed.

Dale have been shortlisted for an award by the FA - competing against the likes of Rotherham, Bradford, Brentford and Wycombe - Rochdale have the chance of becoming the Cuddly-uddly-wuddliest team in League 2 (or Community Team of the year as the nice folks at Ashton Gate prefer to call it). Which is just super.

Dale would begin today's encounter unchanged from their visit to Chester.

The first ten minutes or so were a scrappy, inconclusive affair. Rochdale struggled to bring the wing men, Adams and Buckley, into the game. Part of the pitch preparation at Moss Rose seemed to have involved some form of moto-cross - meaning that passing the ball effectively would be an art in itself. The Silkmen displayed a good deal of pace up front. Which was handy considering the number of long balls they would have to chase, although having got to the ball - they had surprisingly little idea what to do with it.

It wasn't pretty - but, it wasn't raining - fishes or otherwise. Which was a result in itself.

What next then? Well in spite of the furrowed and rutted playing surface Rochdale began to pass the ball - on the ground. This was clearly something that Macc had not seen previously and were entirely unprepared for.

Dale danced around a static and transfixed Macclesfield side who were apparently in awe of this strange, alien variety of football their northern cousins had dreamt up. It is probably a good job we didn't show them the fire as well - we are very proud of the fire - it would probably have been too much for them - we are keeping it under our hats for now.

No, not literally - that would just be foolhardy.

However, in spite of enjoying almost all of the posession and pushing the corner count into double figures - none of it converted into goals. The pick of the Dale efforts was an 18 yard blast from Wiseman - who had found himself in acres of space on the edge of the Macc area - which produced an excellent save from Brain in the Macc goal.

With the final seconds of the first period ebbing away Dagnall burst into the Silkmen's penalty area. As he shaped to shoot he was swept off his feet by a desperate lunge from Brain. Mr. Sarginson (yes, he of Lincoln fame) pointed to the spot. After a moment or two of indecision in the Dale ranks, Kennedy strode forward. Ball on the spot - tick. Step back - tick. Forward and strike - tick. Back of the net - tick. 1-0 Dale!

Which took us rather neatly to half time.

This season has been full to the brim with unusual happenings - well it has. Visitor's from foreign lands, meeting God (although he turned out to be a steward - or that was his story anyway), eating eel's and being on the wireless amongst many other random incidents. However, until today none of these events have implicated me in any kind of criminal misdoings.

Today I became involved in a kidnapping.

Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Duck and his associate Mr. Chuck. Under normal circumstances they reside on a desk somewhere in Rochdale Infirmary. However, they have recently been dragged from the comfort and care of their owner by a cabal of nameless criminals. Being a wiley pair (considering that Mr. Duck is yellow, hollow and made of plastic and that Mr. Chuck is also yellow but in his case made of nylon) they had slipped the clutches of their captors and sought refuge in the boot of my car. Under the circumstances it seemed only fair to take them to see some high quality football.

I understand that Mr. Duck is on Facebook (Ed D. Duck) - you can follow his ongoing adventures there.

Shall we get on with the the second half? I think that would be best...

Having been mesmerised by all that fancy football in the first period, Macc decided that enough was enough and took the game to Rochdale the best way they knew how. It wasn't the beautiful game but it was effective for the home side. Dale either couldn't or wouldn't break Macc's hold on the game. Almost all of the second period was played in the Dale half.

That said genuine efforts on goal for Macclesfield were rare indeed. There were a couple of shouts for penalty's in Macc's favour - both turned down. One of them was given as a freekick just outside the box which required a solid block from Fielding to steer the ball out of play.

Aside of that a solid Dale defence ensured that chances for the Silkmen remained just that. Chances.

The main source of entertainment in the second half was the Noisy Boys persistent baiting of the Macc manager, Keith Alexander - and his rather baffling decision to encourage them by waving and at one point conducting the singing.

1-0 it finished.

Summary:

Another clean sheet. Another three points and Dale's first 1-0 of the season.

At no point today did I have any concern that Dale would lose, let alone concede. After an indifferent start Rochdale played most of the first half in or around the Macc 18 yard area. The second half was an almost Wycombe like display where in spite of Macclesfield's very best efforts the Rochdale defence was seldom seriously troubled.

Strange days indeed.

Turner Watch:

Obviously Mr Turner was very disappointed after the BAFTA's. In an interview last week he commented, 'It's just jobs for't lads innit - a closed shop - I mean Kate Winslet! Do I need to say any more?'

Mr Turner would have joined us today - but he couldn't get out of his front door due to the volume of post.

14/02/09

Radio Times

Rochdale AFC 1 - 1 Macclesfield Town FC

Journey:

I don't live far from Spotland. A five minute car ride. No more than that.

Odd then that this journey begins on Friday afternoon - with a text message from Mr. Turner:

'I am commentating on the Dale game tomorrow!'.

Surely a gag, surely. A few more frantic text's unearthed the stark facts of the matter. It was not a gag. It was real. Mr. Turner's manly baritone would be romancing the ears of the gentle towns folk of Rochdale come 3pm today. Well, assuming they were somewhere in Rochdale Infirmary that is.

Naturally, I wished him every success - well - that may not have been what I actually texted back to him - but I was thinking it - and that surely counts for something, surely. In truth I was as green as the Spotland playing surface. Jammy beggar.

This morning I dropped him a text with some helpful advice: don't swear, don't scream into the microphone if Dale score and under no circumstances make crank calls on-air to any of the cast of Fawlty Towers. Good advice I'm sure you will agree.

...and then I got the text reply I had been praying for:

'I will try and get u in the press box if u want?'

Suffice is to say that the staff at PC World, Oldham were a little taken aback as I performed an impromptu lap of honour around the office furniture display.

A few more texts to seal the deal and I was sat outside Mr. Turner's home waiting to take him to the game. This was a real first. I have never had a media personality in my car before. If I was honest, I had been hoping for Kelly Brook - but she can't get me in the press box at Spotland - so bad luck Kelly.

A swift pint or two in the Studd's Bar, a visit from Playboy Dan plus Playboy snr. and Playboy jnr., a chat with Mr. Turner's co-presenter Mr. Culshaw, a guest appearance from Spotland's award winning match compare Mr. Sweetmore and I was on my way to my seat.

All rather exciting really.

Weather:

Sunny but cool.

Food:

My rubbing shoulders with the great and good left no time for food before the game. I did venture forth at half time - but more of that later.

Away Support:

2-300. Considering that this is pretty much a local derby for Macclesfield, slightly disappointing. However, they compenstated for slender numbers with volume. They sang and cheered like lunatics pretty much throughout the game.

I can only imagine that they take their lead from club manager Keith Alexander who spent the whole game screaming and gesticulating - the fourth official appeared to be wearing ear defenders during the second half.

Action:

So, I had my half term break. During which time Dale exited the Johnstones Paint Tin and earned a replay against Barnet in the Football Association Challenge Trophy following a 1-1 draw at Underhill. It made a pleasant change to take in these events from the comfort of my sofa - however, today marked a return to the real business of league football.

Before the onset of cup football Dale had racked up four consecutive wins and catapulted themselves into sixth place - scoring thirteen goals in the process. Could Rochdale make it five wins out of five today?

Lets join our match commentary team of Mr. Culshaw and Mr. Turner at pitchside and find out...

A slow start. Macc had clearly set themselves up to defend - and defend they did. Rochdale poked and prodded but got little change from a resolute Macclesfield defensive unit.

Lee Thorpe found himself largely marked out of the game by as many as three Macc defenders - and with Dale's primary target man effectively handcuffed - Dagnall was doing little better than picking up scraps.

The Silkmen's strategy seemed to hinge on two men. Nat Brown and Simon Yeo.

Nat Brown - a giant of a man - began the game in central midfield but as events unfolded it became clear that he would also fill in in defence and as required join the strikers. His main contribution in the first period was to disrupt Jones and Toner - which he did very effectively.

With Dale's strike force disabled and the central midfield in turmoil, Simon Yeo's role would be to use his still appreciable pace to harry the Dale defence - and harry he did.

On the half hour Dale won a freekick inside the Macc area for an ill judged back pass to the keeper but to no effect. Moments later Kennedy saw his deflected free-kick saved in dramtic style.

Aside of that - a pretty unispiring 45 minutes of football. As Mr. Salisbury indicated the interval, 0-0 it remained.

Unfortunately my plans for getting into the press-box proper were sadly thwarted. Real press people were occupying the seats - so accomodation for hangers-on was not available. Therefore I was accomodated directly in front of the press area - Mr. Culshaw and Mr. Turner immediately behind me, my shoulder to the tunnel wall, right behind the dug-outs. Not at all bad really.

However, there was a draw back...

At half time when Mr. Turner and his journalist friends disappeared for Pimm's and cucumber sandwiches - I had to make my own arrangements. A fifteen minute wait in the pie queue beckoned - and when I finally got to the counter - no Meat and Potato. Scandalous.

Before and during the first half I had received a number of text messages from Mr. Keane - wishing Mr. Turner good luck - or words broadly to that effect. I was slightly alarmed by the message which suggested that he and Mr. Mitchell were performing show tunes in the Sandy - but to each their own I guess.

Incidentally, for those of you who are keeping up with the progress of the mighty Littleborough Yellows - sadly their run of form ended today with a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Chadderton Juniors.

Second half. It seemed that some re-planning had gone on in the Dale dressing room while I was waiting for a pie. The disjointed performance of the first period was gone - Macc's defensive strategy unpicked - Rochdale drove forward. Efforts from Thorpe, Toner, Thompson and Dagnall all went close - Thompson rattling the woodwork - and then on 66 the breakthrough came. A Kennedy corner, flicked on by Dagnall and smuggled home by Rundle from point blank range. 1-0 Dale.

With Wiseman re-capturing the style we saw at Darlington in the play-off's and Rundle's trade mark twists and turns - Dale had real width and looked much the greater threat. However, a second goal did not come and in spite of being a goal behind Macc had very far from given up.

On 81, the Silkmen got their reward. Edgy Rochdale defending had failed to clear the ball which fell to Izak Reed who delivered a fizzing cross. Nat Brown - who else - found himself in acres of space and headed the ball past a defenceless Russell. 1-1.

Dale rallied, but an effort from Thorpe - saved by the Macc keeper, Brain proved to be the only significant chance.

Summary:

A draw. Judging by the grumblings from some sections of the crowd - not that satisfactory. But, I guess it is a measure of Rochdale's recent form that anything other than a win is regarded as a failure.

Macclesfield had clearly done their homework and proved to be very stubborn opponents. On balance I think a draw represented a fair result although Dale did produce more than enough chances to win the game comfortably.

With the point from todays game, Rochdale move up to 4th and extend their unbeaten run to seven games. Not much to grumble about there.

Turner Watch:

The boy done good.

Thanks to Mr. Turner's kind invitation I am now on the list to have a crack at commentating myself at some point. Clearly I have a lot to live up to following Mr. Turners performance today - Motson-esque from the bits I overheard - but I will give it my best shot. Rochdale Infirmary beware.

15/11/08

Status Quo

Macclesfield Town 2 - 2 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

Horrible! SatNav decided to take me on a tour of every windey lane in rural Cheshire - Macclesfield town centre had been dug up causing a huge single file queue. Basically, it took ages.

Ground:

The Moss Rose is a charmless selection of farm outbuildings arranged around an admitedly very well kept playing surface. The away fans were herded into a roofless, steeply raked concrete terrace - large sections of which were cordoned off (presumably for safety reasons). The absence of a roof would become an issue as the game wore on. Just to briefly reflect on the toilet facilities, they were, well, toilets. Reminiscent of an internment centre, waders would have been desirable.

In summary, if Macclesfield Town were to announce plans to keep cattle in their ground - The RSPCA would have a petition going as fast as you can say 'Arighi Bianci'.

Food:

My Cornish pasty was acceptable if a little dry. My associate Mr. Keane's Steak & Kidney pie was brusquely rejected on the basis of a strong 'Crab meat' overtone - it spent the balance of the match on the concrete. Mr Mitchell was made of sterner stuff and consumed another example of the questionable pastry. He later reflected that it was 'disgusting'.

Weather:

Having been to the Moss Rose many times before I felt I had adequately prepared for the capricious weather conditions. I was wrong. The weather proceeded to make an all out bid for 'man of the match'. As the game began we were treated to a downpour which would have had Noah dusting off his DIY books. As the game unfolded the bruised sky continued to deliver an unremitting torrent, abetted by a vicious swirling gale with a brief but inspired interlude of driving hail. A roof, a roof my kingdom for a roof!

Action:

Dale started brightly despite the conditions. Macc looked a little shaky at the back and Dale sought to capitalise; culminating in a rasping shot from a distinctly stream-lined Lee McEvilly. However, this early endeavour from Dale lead to nothing as Macc weathered the storm(s) and following some Keystone Cops style defending from Dale, Macc were in the lead thanks to Levi Reid. Ten minutes later Dale were two behind after a goal kick from Brain (either mis-hit or bedeviled by the tempest) shot along the ground, evading every man on the park and set up Evans for Macc's second.

Two comedy goals conceded, a violent hurricane to contend with and nowhere to smoke! In spite of our alfresco accommodations the stewards stuck firmly to the 'no-smoking in the ground' policy.

In fairness Dale had been the masters of their own fate in the first half. Too many passes had gone astray, too many players caught in possession, second to every loose ball. In contrast Macc had kept the ball better and used it more effectively. They were good value for their lead and in the gathering gloom it seemed unlikely that Dale had a way back into the game.

Dale returned to the monsoon with renewed purpose in the second half. The determination to atone for the sins of the first half was self evident. The technical flaws were still evident but the high tempo with which Dale approached their task compensated admirably. The introduction of LeFondre, Doolan and then Thompson led to Dale nicking one on 63 minutes when a solid drive from Rundle took a wicked deflection off Macc's Luke Dimech.

Dale continued to hammer away as the half wore on but the Macc defence stood firm and as the fourth official indicated four minutes of stoppage time (to groans from the sodden throng), Macc looked on course for their first win in weeks.

As the clock ran down, Dale stuck to their task and their efforts yeilded a corner with just over a minute to go. The corner was driven at pace to the back post were Glen Murray rose from the crowd and nodded the ball home - in the storm lashed away end hysteria ensued - this had been a come-back worthy of Status Quo!

Summary:

The officials were fairly poor, the referee being far too whistle happy to keep the game moving in the vile weather conditions. The linesmen seemed to have only a nodding aqaintence with the off-side rule - I really did feel for the Macc striker who was judged off-side: in his own half.

Macc are a decent side who played some solid technical football and if the half time score had stood, few would have grumbled. However, Dale rallied magnificently after a fairly rotten first half and it was this commitment to the cause that rescued the point.

29/12/07