Rochdale 5 FCBFCSA 1
FCBFCSA went down by 5 goals to 1 in a strange encounter in Middleton yesterday.
In a match played on an undersized astroturf surface, that Rochdale battled to get on, due to nationwide reluctance on the part of local authorities to put football posts up in time for the start of the season.One of the reasons for the crime epidemic in this country in my mind, is lack of sporting facilities for youngsters to release their energies on. But i digress.
After losing Karl Bates , and Kieren Trent late on due to travel problems Barnet were forced to reshuffle, and welcomed back Liverpool based full back Jocelyn Sheldon, and fielded new signings from the Barnet staff team James Harrison, and Andy Taylor.
The team read
Barney, Taylor. A, Sheldon, Ollie Minton, Gerry Currell, James Harrison, James Taylor, Ross Clark, Chris Richards, Craig Clayton, Tony Fenton Subs Iain Dalziel, Luke Beacon
After thirty seconds FCBFCSA found themselves a goal down, when Rochdale punted the ball forward. Ryan Barney flapped at it in goal, and we fell to the sucker punch.
A defensive error by both centre backs individually cost us the next two goals, and a freak goal that was deflected off Ryan Barney in goal on the point of half time left us 4-0 behind at half time.
At this point two of the travelling FCBFCSA support started arguing. One was berating the manager. The other was sticking up for him. It was embarassing, and not the way we wanted to start the season.
The players were rattled but buoyant at half time. Few had played since the Underhill match, and were finding their touch. FCBFCSA were not converting the chances they created. Gerry Currell had been struggling with the high ball, and James Taylor was being bypassed in midfield. Andy Taylor, James Harrison, and Craig Clayton were perhaps the pick of the first half.
The team decided to switch Taylor and Currell, and in the second half this shored up both the defence and the midfield. Later on it was decided to switch Clayton, and Richards, and Clayton worked the ball across his marker, and rifled home a blistering drive.
Barnet created many chances in the second half, with Tony Fenton, and Chris Richards coming into the game more, and can count and with more clinical finishing could have narrowed the deficit. Ross Clark got stronger in the middle of the game two.
Two tackles stand out that were applauded by the opposition. Andy Taylor made a firm challenge early on, that left him carrying an injury. James Taylor made a last gasp challenge in the second half.
Barnet took James Harrison, and Jocelyn Sheldon off late on for a well earned breather, and handed cameo appearances to Iain 'The Sharkette' Dalziel, and Luke Beacon.
A bizarre obstacle was on the pitch, two hanging wires across the pitch to net off part of the pitch. Barnet hit these three or four times.Rochdale wondered why they didn't given their high ball game. It was pointed out, and accepted that the reason why they didn't was because the wire was so low. We were relieved that Simon Brown was not playing. Had he went up for a header in the wrong place he might have been decapitated.
Barnet's captain Gerry Currell, was happy that the team played the game the right way, keeping it on the ground, and passing the ball around, expressing surprise that 'Dale played the long ball having played much better when at South Underhill last season.
'Dale are not league champions and cup runners up for nothing. They had a game plan, and it worked. When they had chances, they took them.Not the best result, but something to build on for the season.
Confidence is building for a good season ahead.
What Dale Say
Dale continued their good start to the season with a comprehensive victory over a decent Barnet side. Liam Ratcliffe scored within 12 seconds when the ball was smashed against him by a defender and he added another after playing a 1-2 with the post. And a bizarre own goal followed when the keeper got the slightest touch on a throw-in that went straight in to give Dale a 100% start to the season.
Good luck to Mark Woodhall
The game marked the retirement of 37 year old 'Dale player manager Mark Woodhall after an astonishing 15 years in charge of the team. We wish him all the best for the future.
To mark his retirement he posed for this picture with Tony Fenton.
Well apart from Adam Birchall's early strike, Tony Fenton's decision to miss the main game was a good one.
Driver Andy
Thanks to Andy for selflessly abstaining from alcohol for the visit, and driving us back and forth. He is a star.
Pull outs and Messy bus
A few minor niggles on this day. Pull outs from the minibus and substitutes bench meant that we were left with income underbudget by £95-00, and rising petrol costs meant that the day was overly expensive.
I hope to get a contribution to the hire cost from said persons.
It looked like the team had a good time on the bus on the way home.
I enjoyed it, particularly the kick about at the services, and DJ Claytons mega-mix.
However, it was expected that the team would take their own mess off the bus at the end of the trip.
Andy Murphy, Luke Beacon, Ollie Deed, Gerry Currell (cheers lads), and myself spent a good 20mins cleaning up afterwards.
This was necessary to get my £100 deposit back, and to enable us to use the same hire company again in the future.