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Notts County FC 1 - 2 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

A butterfly flaps it's wings in Tokyo and we get rain in Rochdale: Chaos theory.

Sunderland beat Newcastle at the weekend and I get to leave Wigan at 4:30 to travel to Nottingham: My boss is a Sunderland fan theory.

In a season when I am going that extra mile (5600 to be precise) for Dale - I find myself keeping more than half an eye on the progress of the Black Cat's. I need to bring up the subject of Gillingham away shortly...

M6, A500, A50, A453 - allowing for traffic outside Nottingham I finally arrived at Meadow Lane just before 7pm.

This is game fourteen of the 101 Project. You might suppose that vast amounts of planning and forethought go into organising such a venture.

You might suppose that - but you would be very, very wrong.

Basically for away trips, I need four things.

1) A postcode

2) SatNav

3) I-Pod

4) Mobile

The required postcode is usually obtained just as I leave the house/work from the internet. Although on one occasion this season I have had to go back again - having forgotten to get it. The postcode is of course required for my SatNav.

My SatNav has a mind of her own. I say her - because she has developed a personality. Jane - for that is her name - must be treated with care and tenderness, because the alternative is pretty unpleasant.

She doesn't like to be rushed - you can't just jump in the car and demand a destination - oh no - several minutes must pass before we get to that part - she needs to prepare herself. Having allowed time for her to get ready - think carefully before suggesting a potential destination - if she doesn't like your suggestion, she will shut down and then go through an overly lengthy re-start process - after which she may reconsider your proposal, possibly. If your choice of destination is particularly offensive she will freeze solid, refusing any further instructions - you can't even switch her off - you have to wait until the batteries run out.

I have considered getting a new SatNav - but I suspect that Jane would want half of the car.

By contrast my I-Pod is a model of consistency - charge it up and away it goes. Hours of musical entertainment to bemuse and upset Mr. Keane.

The final ingredient in this technological trio is my mobile. Being a man it is obviously not used to talk to people - that would be too obvious. Texting. Texting is how away trips are organised. Endless almost vowel-less communications - where a brief phone call would probably have done the trick.

'U goin t gme m8?'

Considering these facts - it is amazing I get to any games - let alone all of them.

Weather:

The matricies on the M6 promised snow. Thankfully they were wrong - however, it was absolutely freezing. Hat, scarf, gloves and big coat required.

Food:

As this was to be a solo venture - in spite of numerous text's, both Mr. Keane and Mr. Turner had turned down the opportunity to travel to Robin Hood's back yard - I decided to ring the changes. Chicken and mushroom pie. Very cosmopolitan. Including the essential cup of hot coffee I didn't see much change from a fiver.

Ground:

There isn't much to say about Meadow Lane, it is along with Darlington about the best ground in the league. County's years at a significantly higher level of football have produced something to be very proud of. Even the toilets are nice - i.e. not awash with suspicious liquid.

That said, from my last visit to County where we were accommodated in the Kop Stand, I would find myself located in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand tonight. On balance not a bad move - a much better view was had by the 300+ Dale fans who journeyed south.

Finally, I would like to reflect on the County match program. What an excellent read. One of the best program's I have picked up this season. No aspect of the Magpies season so far was left un-disected - the section on Dale was also really good. All of this detail however means one thing - it is also the thickest program I have come accross. Practically a book. But on a bitterly cold night where you have to sit on an unsympathetic plastic chair - having a thick book to insulate your behind is no bad thing.

Action:

Having put Chester and Aldershot to the sword in the last ten days - expectation among the travelling support was pretty high. But I remember last seasons trip to Meadow Lane. Dale had been comprehensively ambushed by County and had retired back north on the wrong end of a 1-0 result. Could County reproduce that steely performance this time around?

Mr. Hill continued his practice of rotating his wingers - Rundle and Thompson would start, Buckley on the bench. From my vantage point I couldn't tell if he had been provided with a match program.

The biting cold seemed to have an effect on proceedings. The opening ten-fifteen minutes were largely inconclusive. However, once Dale got the blood flowing they began to produce the kind of football which had taken care of Chester and Aldershot.

In spite of the quality of Dale's play and a string on half chances only two efforts really troubled Hoult in the Magpies goal. A twenty yard rocket from Jones which clipped the post on the way out of play, followed by a deft header from Thompson which had Hoult at full stretch.

A decent first half - but nothing to show for it. A couple of weeks ago I would have been concerned that we hadn't scored - but the last couple of performances gave me some comfort. Plus, we hadn't conceded. This should just be a matter of time...

Far more alarmingly than the events on the pitch - as the first half unfolded it became clear that I was not in fact alone.

A text (well what else) from Mr. McCabe revealed that he and the Playboy were somewhere in the crowd. After some further texting I tracked them down at half-time. After some needless vilification of my gloves (effeminate, apparently), we agreed to sit together for the second half.

Within two minutes of the kick off, the Magpies were ahead. County's Weston had charged into the Dale box and was adjudged to have been brought down by Wiseman. Mr. Gibbs had no second thoughts about indicating the penalty spot and Forrester calmly converted the spot kick. 1-0 County.

The penalty award provoked a vigorous reaction from the Rochdale fans. It really did seem that Weston had run into Wiseman. It seemed at best a very soft decision. That said, I have seen far better shouts turned down and much weaker ones given - quite what goes on in referee's minds is at times deeply confusing.

Linking up with Mr. McCabe and the Playboy meant no further texts from that quarter - however it was around this point that Mr. Keane began to text me. He was listening to the game on t'interweb in the warmth of his home and was seeking pitch side reaction.

The next quarter of an hour saw Dale return to the type and style of football we saw in the first half with little serious reply from County who seemed happy to protect what they had. It also saw a trickle of texts between Nottingham and Rochdale as I appaised Mr. Keane of developments.

On 63 Rochdale levelled the tie through Lee Thorpe. I understand that it was a very good goal. Regrettably I was responding to Mr. Keane's latest missive and missed it.

So far this season I have missed three goals - this really must stop.

With the tie level County's defensive approach was undone and it was little real surprise when Dale took the lead on 73. The normally ponderous Thorpe hared clear of the Magpie's back four, skipped around the keeper and delivered a clinical angled finish. 2-1 Dale.

County did push to get back into the game as the clock wound down, producing a couple of dangerous looking corners - but to no significant effect.

The game to this point had been played in good spirit - however the concluding ten minutes saw a couple of regrettable incidents were Magpie's players unburdend their frustration. Rundle was on the receiving of a particularly ugly challenge which on another day could have seen the perpetrator heading for the dressing room.

2-1 Dale. A well earned victory. I would have clapped the players off the pitch - but I couldn't feel my hands.

Summary:

County really were not very good tonight. There was hardly a glimmer of the super organised team which had beaten Rochdale here last season. The penalty was something of a gift meaning that the scoreline rather flattered the home team.

Lee Thorpe had the best game of his time at Dale. OK he scored two - but his all around play was excellent. He and Dagnall are becoming a partnership which should concern any team in the league. I had a feeling at the start of the season that Thorpe and Dagnall would work well as a combination - it is nice to be proved right.

My final text of the night was to Mr. Keane who had asked for a final reaction to the result. Here is my reply:

'Frozen but happy :-)'

Pretty much covers it I think.

Turner Watch:

May be in some degree of trouble following some off-colour crank calls on his radio progam.

28/10/08

Mobbed

Notts County FC 1 - 0 Rochdale AFC

Journey:

Away trips usually begin with a trip to my local corner shop. Let's face it who can afford to pay motorway service station prices? As I was selecting drinks, crisps etc - I ran into 'Pickle' Pete. Pete is a die-hard Dale fan who I have been on chatting terms with for years. In that time he has proved to be an excellent source of Dale gossip - today was no exception.

As I waited to pay; Pete passed on three useful nuggets:

Dagnall has signed a contract upto 2010.

Dale have already signed a new striker for the 2008/9 season. Prepare for the return of the Mack - Lee McEvily will be back at Spotland come summer!

The remaining Dale players fretting on contract extensions need not worry - new contracts are being drafted as we speak.

With all that absorbed I got in the car and with light snow falling over Rochdale - I headed south. The journey was largely event free. Sudden roundabout had elected to be a roundabout this weekend - so no headaches getting out of the Borough. M62, M1 - past the 80's theme park (Sheffield) and onwards to Nottingham. Nottingham centre itself is a bit of a warren - but even with heavy Saturday traffic we were at Meadow Lane in a little under two hours.

Well - not exactly. We were actually at the City Ground - due to some pilot error on my part. A further few minutes of negotiating the byways of Nottingham saw us safely parked up right next to Meadow Lane. £5 to park.

Weather:

There was loads.

Food:

I should explain at this stage that our normal line-up of connoisseurs were not available for this trip. Messers Keane and Mitchell were on international duties. Rochdale's flake baron was reaping the ripe bounty of the holiday weekend. Mr. Turner was probably opening a supermarket somewhere.

Therefore, along with Lady Luck there was a surprise call-up for Mrs. Eden-Maughan.

A coffee and two Coke's £4.30. Not quite in the Mansfield league - but still pretty steep. Unlike Mansfield, the coffee was definitely coffee.

£2.50 for a chicken and mushroom pie! Granted it was a Pukka pie - and very nice to - if a little on the hot side - but £2.50! On the other hand, Mrs. Eden-Maughan opted for the hot dog. This was also £2.50 - but it was possibly the largest hot dog I have ever seen. Basically a loaf - split down the middle with a sausage and all the fried onions you could handle. Always an eye for a bargain that wife of mine.

Ground:

In previous reports I have been fairly acid on the subject of the grounds I have visited. The agricultural qualities of Moss Rose, the half-done Field Mill and the baffling grab-bag of structures that is Edgeley Park.

Meadow Lane is nothing like any of these. Four modern stands, all seated, all enclosed. The home of the Magpies is the best ground I have visited for some years.

The home support was pretty impressive - upwards of 3000. Although for reasons which were not exactly clear the stand facing us was almost empty. In fairness, there were some fairly big gaps all around the ground - but then consider that sixteen years ago - County were rubbing shoulders with Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal in English football's top tier. This ground was designed for very different times.

Dale's away support continues to surprise and delight. Easily 500 - if not many more. Considering there was only one coach laid on, this was all the more impressive. The Dale choral society were in good voice half an hour before the kick-off - inflatables were being tossed back and forth amongst the throng to add to the holiday mood.

Action:

Magpies. Have you ever seen how Magpies deal with an ambitious cat or an exuberant dog? No? Let me explain:

As one, they will take to the wing and then take it in turns to dive bomb the offender until such time as it realises that there are probably easier pickings elsewhere. It is called - according to the RSPB - mobbing. I strongly suspect that Mr. McParland has seen this to.

Dale were on a high after last weeks antics versus the hapless Accrington Stanley and started the game with their customary elan - winning a freekick on the edge of the county area just minutes into the game.

But then it began to go wrong.

Dale tried to pass the ball around but were harried and closed down at every turn. Pass after pass was cut out by a County player throwing themselves into the path of the ball. Jones and Perkins were simply being over-run.

Dale tried to switch to an ariel route of attack to avoid the relentless and frenzied assault on the midfield. As you would expect, the Magpies were excellent in the air - and more than contained Dale's escape route.

With the midfield played out of the game and Howe and LeFondre ably stewarded by the County defence - the blows began to fall on the Dale back four. Chance after chance fell to the Magpies as the half wore on. On eighteen minutes County looked certain to take advantage of a horrible mix-up between McArdle and loan keeper Lee - only poor finishing from Crow saved Dale's blushes. The pressure continued to build and on twenty eight minutes Johnson put the Magpies ahead in the melee following a poorly handled corner.

As the whistle blew for half time Dale retired from the field, comprehensively out-competed and 1-0 down.

Half time was brightened by small boys playing eleven-a-side - commentary provided by a man apparently trying to impersonate Colin Crompton. The boys in all blue - were County - the boys in red and white stripes - were Dale. Well, according to Colin that is. All very confusing. 'Dale' won 6-1.

The second half would be a pretty frantic affair. Dale pressed forward and created a good selection of chances including a dramatic goal line clearance from a Basham shot. Dale also had the ball in the net - twice - both efforts ruled out for reasons which were not exactly clear.

By this stage the Magpies were plainly hanging on for dear life - but with a lead to protect and the commitment of the first half still very much in evidence - Dale simply could not find a way through.

Dale made a couple of late substitutions - but to no obvious advantage. By this stage County were more than happy to hold the ball up by the corner flag.

Summary:

I am not sure quite what Dale had expected today - perhaps that struggling County could be swept aside as they had done to Mansfield and Accrington so recently?

County are a proud club with a long (the longest in fact) tradition of league football. Today they were simply in no mood to allow Dale to help drive them into the Conference.

Never a pretty game by any means - County nullified Dale's plans and firmly imposed their own. Worthy winners.

As I plunged into a gathering blizzard north of Nottingham an old Level 42 track came on the radio. Like Mark King I was left to lament, '...could be better, should be better...'

Turner Watch:

I really don't know why I bother with this bit anymore.

22/03/08