Crewe vs Rotherham, FA cup round 1, Gresty Road, Sat 4th Nov, 2-1
Rotherham United have a shocking record in the FA cup. The only time we have been in past xmas is when we were in the championship and came in past Xmas. So we were not expecting a great deal other than a nice picnic in our favourite lay-by. Joe Mattocks red card against the thugs last week meant we were without a recognised left back and Warne had to shuffle the back four. Not encouraging when you think how rubbish our best back four is. We were also without Rodak, away on international duty (!§!!??!) so O’Donnell was recalled.
Bizarrely, both on loan players Ritchie Towell and Keiffer Moore were allowed to play by their respective clubs. Moore was a puzzler. Ipswich obviously don’t want him, but will they sell him to us or recall him in Jan and sell him to someone richer. Probably the latter.
We packed up the picnic hamper and set off in Ian’s new Volvo at around 11.30, taking the shorter but longer time wise route through the Peak District. We have been to Crewe a few times and were looking for a particular spot for lunch. We passed through Buxton before climbing up and over a moor. You could see for miles. We soon came upon the lay-by we were looking for. Ah, the memories. The last time we stopped here was one of the strangest lunchstops we’ve ever had. One that gives vicky nightmares even today. We were gazing out over the rolling hills when up popped two hillbillies with shotguns and a couple of braces of dead rabbits over each shoulder. We know not from whence they came. It put vicky right off her cheese sarnies. Alas, no such incidents occurred this time, just a really pleasant picnic from a wonderful picnic basket
We carried on and arrived out our usual parking spot in the Crewe industrial estate (free) and layered up. It was a bit chilly. We walked our usual route past the station to the ground and entered the little away stand. Ian spotted a couple of people he knew, he always does, before we took our seats.
The picnic was not enough
We were quite close to the front, and near to the linesman. Excellent. There were quite a few Millers and they were in good voice as the teams came out.
Front row seat
We started Well and had a few good chances before the ball fell to Will Vaulkes on the edge of the area. ‘Shoot’ we all cried. He shot. A bullet that beat the keeper and nestled in the top corner of the net. 1-0 the Millers, cue the cartwheel and backflip that pleased vicky no end
Just before halftime we got a corner. It was curled in and found the head of Keiffer Moore who steered it home. 2-0 the Millers as the ref pointed to the centre circle.
Keiffers ‘goal’
Or so we thought. As the two teams reformed ready to restart he must have got a message from his linesman. He jogged over, had a discussion, then ordered the corner to be retaken. We knew not why but it was still 1-0. Needless to say we didn’t score from the retaken corner and halftime arrived shortly after. 1-0 to the Millers and looking good for the next round.
Word at half time from the guy in front who got it from someone he knew who was listening to sky was that the corner was retaken because the linesman slipped. The crowd were outraged. Baffling decision
The bad news was that The Millers didn’t come out for the second half. The defence in particular had a nightmare. Richard O’Donnell was like the post header as he shouted for Richard Wood to leave a ball, then proceeded to miss it himself. 1-1. Vicky told Wood in no uncertain terms what she thought of his defending. Shortly after he went on a run out from defence causing the young boy seated behind to yell ‘go on daddy, go on daddy!’. And to explain to his grandad, who had taken his brother to the loo, ‘daddy went on a run right up to here!’. Whoops. Then at the death half the team seemed to swing at, and miss, a soft shot that trickled in. 2-1 And we were exiting the cup once again.
As we trudged downheartedly back to the car past the station Vicky spouted her opinion of our defence in no uncertain terms, only to be passed by Mike on his way to catch a train. Whoops!
We wanted to concentrate on the league anyway.
Next up, Donny away
Man of the match
Ian-Vaulks for the goal
Jackie - Newell, he had a good first half
Vicky-Vaulks for the goal
Toilet watch
5/10 - taps were hard to use (!) and cubicles were randomly dotted about
Footnote
It appears that the guy in fronts mate got it wrong. The corner was retaken beacause of a push. Just as baffling.
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