Doncaster v Rotherham, sat 11th Nov, Keepmoat Stadium, 1-1
We haven’t played Donny in the league for 10 years. We have never played them at their newish home, the Keepmoat. So it was an exciting game for us, as it clearly was for the almost 4000 Millers that made the short trip with us. Due to the event being televised on sky the kick off was brought forward to 12.30. Some of our fans decided to make a day of it by leaving Rotherham about 7am in order to take in a few bars, indeed ‘Spoons was apparently rammed by 9am! We decided on a more leisurly trip, leaving home around 1.30 giving Heather all afternoon to join the PLO March she and Sylvia had planned. Having peaked outside I decided it was freezing so layered up, even wearing leggings under my jeans.
We found a deserted street on an industrial estate and parked up before strolling down to the stadium. The concourse was hopping so we took our seats before the yobbos stole them. We weren’t even up at the back for a change.
The Keepmoat stadium is very similar to the New York in that it can be freezing outside but like the Bahamas inside. I had to remove my hat and gloves and most of my top layers. My legs were roasting. The row behind was populated by some blokes who had been on one of those first trains out of Rotherham, in spoons, and what sounded like every other pub in Donny before coming to the match. They discussed their exploits and the trouble that had occurred with pride.
Joe Mattocks sending off meant a rejiggimg of the defence (again) with Mike taking the left back birth. As the game began it was clear that one of the guys behind wasn’t keen on Joe Newell. ‘Newell is lazy and has no skill’ being the jist of his tirades. He wasn’t keen on mike either. Or Wood, or Towell. All Moore does is score. Williams is hopeless. Taylor worse. At one point he expounded that we needed 10 new players leaving vicky and I to mull over which one we would keep. We thought maybe Potter, although he was desperate for DaBall to come on. I must admit the team didn’t do us proud being careless with the ball and mainly launching it forward toward Moore. The sky viewers at home must have been transfixed. Still we reached the break level at 0-0.
Second half was much the same, poor play from us and moaning from behind. The moaning really ramped up when a cross was fizzed in by Donny only for Richard Wood to stick out a foot and divert it into his own net. No sign of the magic hat and 1-0 to Donny. That was the signal for the home side to start time wasting. They feigned injury, they took an age with every free kick and set piece. They made two substitutions where the players going off took An age. No worries though because we didn’t look like scoring, ever. The moaners changed tack and started to vent their spleen at Warne, the fitness coach. Never a manager, tactics all wrong, needed to bring on DaBall ASAP. Eventually he must have got fed up too and brought him on, along with JCH. this proved to give us a lift and we started looking more likely, with JCH hitting the post. At 90 mins the ref signalled 5 mins added time.
As we all know, added time didn’t exist until Alec Ferguson complained so much that it was introduced a few years ago. It became known as Fergie Time. The Donny manager is Darren Ferguson, Alec’s son. So he should be perfectly fine with the concept. As the fourth official raised his board the ball went out of play for a throw. The Donny player strolled over to take it, pulled up his socks, looked around, then the ref told him to wait for a Donny substitution. The player going off shook hands with every player as he left the field from his position at the far, far, corner. The new player came on and eventually we were ready for the throw. TWO minutes had passed.
As most of the Millers fans streamed away with the clock showing 90+6 a quick interchange between DaBall and Towell saw the ball fall to Keiffer Moore in the area. Top scorer in all England Keiffer Moore. In slow motion his scuffed shot trickled through a host of Donny players into the net. 1-1. The Donny fans were silenced
Keiffers 13th goal of the season
The rotherham fans who were sneaking out snuck back in and went wild. We had snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat after a poor performance, it felt like a win. Ferguson was apoplectic with rage afterward. ‘Where had the extra time in extra time come from?’. Ask your dad.
Next up, Shrewsbury at home
Man of the match
Ian - Potter
Jackie - Potter
Vicky - Moore, he scored and wound fans up
Toilet watch
Not bad, quite a few And toilet paper. Very similar to New York. 7/10
Footnote
Mick McCarthy came out in midweek and said he would deffo be recalling Keiffer in January.
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