Following on from a great performance last week against the red half of Salford, this Saturday saw ‘Dale take on the blue half of Manchester in what was expected to be another very close and competitive encounter. Last time out against City at the annual Tranmere tournament, we were taught a footballing lesson and well untruly beaten. I’d say the lads were out for revenge, but with kick off being pushed forward to 10am the main objective was waking up.
It wouldn’t be a supporters game without a bit of pre-match controversy. The gaffer had been organising to meet at Sandbrook Park McDonalds for a bit of “team bonding” before heading over to the pitch, which wasn’t a decision everyone was a fan of. The meeting time was 9am, yet it had it past 9.04 and he was nowhere in sight. It was only by the time I‘d finished my breakfast wrap (red sauce, no cheese) that it became clear he was going straight there, outrage.
The game today was at the Oasis Academy in Oldham, very good facilities and a big pitch to apply our unique brand of “total football”.
There were some notable absences today, which would see ‘Dale start with a much changed 11 from the 3-3 draw with Man United last week. Those that were missing included Paul Hudson (apparently had been crushed by his own ego in the hours leading up to the game), Joe Walsh (taking an exam, yeah you heard that right, taking an exam on a Saturday morning) and Liam Jennings (the less spoke about this the better….)
Captain for the day Dee, known in dark corners of Litten Tree as David Heeley, had supplied the music. Apparently he was told the night before that his Walkman wouldn’t work, he wasn’t best pleased….
Big turn out from the Dale today, with 17 players giving manager Rhys Wolstenholme a selection headache. Dale set up with a classic 4-4-2 formation today. The starting 11 was as follows…
Adam Stott
Iain Murray
Jack Leeming
Rhys Wolstenholme
Jamie Albison
Luke Walsh
David Heeley©
Joe Ralphs
Phil Darlington
Kyle Davies
Andrew Lorrimer
It could have been the early kick off and the fact I hadn’t completely woken up, but we seemed to be doing a bit more of an organised warm up. Well I say organised, there wasn’t as many people shooting at the keeper at the same time, and we had cut out the pointless crosses into the box fiasco. There were numerous small passing circles going on, strikers taking shots one at a time and our 2 goalkeepers (yes, 2 goalkeepers) having their own little get together.
So the players were warm, team talks had been spoke, stretches had been done and we were ready. One problem, no referee. Apparently he had gone to the wrong venue; it wasn’t like we had a game to get to that afternoon or anything… But anyway, 15 minutes later than scheduled and we were off.
‘Dale kicked off, playing against the wind in the first half, left to right (depending on which side of the pitch you were stood).
City were playing a 4-4-1-1 formation, which effectively worked as a 5 man midfield with their “number 10” dropping into the middle of the park. In all fairness to City they started off the much better team, creating more chances and looking mostly likely to score – which they did.
The opener came via a City corner; an in-swinging cross headed home by their centre half. 1-0 to City, about 10 minutes played.
Due to the visitors playing an apparent 5 man midfield, ‘Dale changed formation to help get us back into the game. Greek Kyle had pulled out onto the left flank, with soon to be leaving us Phil Darlington tucking into the middle of the pitch, to help us keep hold of the ball. Leaving Andrew “legs” Lorrimer to lead the line, our George Donnelly. ‘Dale were now playing 4-5-1.
With the change in tactics were starting to get a foothold in the game, keeping the ball much better and looking a lot more dangerous on the attack. An equaliser was soon to follow.
Following 5-10 minutes of Dale pressure, the ball fell to the skipper David Heeley who took his chance brilliantly and fired home into the top left corner. Some would say the ball didn’t take a deflection, the others would tell the truth. But they all count, and Dale were level. 1-1, about 20 minutes had been played. I’d love to provide more information about the finish, however I’m still baffled why Dee was so far up the pitch…
The game had started to get very end-to-end, City once again took the lead, this time with a pacey counter attack down the right wing. The City striker pulling the ball back across the goal to his teammate who fired home from 10 yards out. 2-1 City, 30 minutes played.
Some happy punters on the side line, both the goals galore and over 2.5 coupons had come in…
Dale made a couple of first half changes, with
Rumours of the attractive football Dale were playing must have spread, with a total of 6 supporters filling up the main stand. Mick, Eddie and Mr. Walsh were joined by Dave Leeming, Grandpapa Stott and Stott Jnr (obviously making the most of her free season ticket).
Half time, Dale 1-2 City.
A few first half changes followed by a couple more subs at half time gave Dale a new look line up going into the 2nd half. A comeback was needed, but Dale had the wind. The line-up for the 2nd half read:
Adam Stott
Iain Murray
Jack Leeming
Jonny Hall
Dean Smith
John Barton
Travis Roberts
James Hardman
Ryan Lockett
Phil Darlington
Kyle Davies
Dean Smith had deciding to stop travelling across America to help his teammates, he now knows he isn’t liked in North America (we could have told him that before he spent a fortune on flights etc), John Barton was tasked with protecting the back 4. Travis/Sonic started the half on the right wing with his noticeable haircut, Jimmy and Ryan’s fresh legs would help press the City midfield.
Dale started the 2nd half the much better team, pressing City much higher up the pitch and retaining the vast majority of the possession. It’s not very often I say this, but Iain Murray was having a blinder. Reading the game, and patrolling the right flank like a Hairy Cafu. I haven’t seen a performance like that since he played centre half for Leyton Orient….
It was coming, and it came. Goal for Dale, 2-2 about 55 minutes played. Some brilliant work by Phil Darlo on the left wing made himself enough space for a cross, which he put to the back post where Sonic was lurking. With a swing of his left boot, Sonic floated the ball across the goal and into the back of the net. Shades of Aguero vs Man United, and not a bad way to bag your first league goal. The comeback was on.
Dale were on top, and City were under the cosh. Some brilliant work from Dale saw Sonic go past his man and square the ball to Jonny Hall (now playing up front for some reason) who slammed the ball past the helpless keeper from 6 yards out. Javier Hernandez would have been proud of our new Calvin Andrew, showing a real poaching mentality. 3-2 Dale, about an hour played.
Another came not long after, with Jimmy Hardman providing a pin point pass to Sonic at the back stick, who calmly slotting the ball home into the roof of the net, giving Dale a 2 goal lead with 20 minutes to go. Some would say Jimmy’s pass was a shot was an attempt on goal, everyone else would agree. Not a bad day for Sonic, 2 goals, 1 assist and a hat full of gold coins…. 4-2 Dale.
City were now chasing the game and throwing men forward, with 5 minutes left City pulled one back from a close range effort, following a set piece. It was a tense last 5, finger nails everywhere were being chewed and Remi’s open can of cider on the side was going flat.
But Dale held out and came out 4-3 winners, which left us with 4 points from our opening 2 games. Not a bad start. Back into the changing rooms, so Dee could put his cassettes back in the machine.
A solid performance from the lads.
Off to Chesterfield, we had high hopes…