Blackpool v Rotherham, sat 9th Dec, Bloomfield rd, 1-2
Blackpool is one of the best awaydays of the season. Slots, fish and chips, the tower. What’s not to like. This year, as occurred last time, our visit coincided with a bitterly cold front sweeping the country. We decided to avoid the Woodhead and take the M62, and saw lots of snow on the way. Blackpool itself, however, didn’t have any. A Christmas box from Blackpool council saw free parking for December, so we parked up and headed for coral island and lunch. Vicky had fish and chips, but Ian and I had our heads turned by a big pan of mince and dumplings. Poor choice
Then it was time to try for big money on the 2p machines.
Vicky managed to win 4 (four!) key rings before eventually running out of money. Ian and I had a game of air hockey where my greater guile and flexibility saw me easily win.
Alas, the donkey derby (actually a camel derby but it doesn’t sound right) was a Bridge too far. Some small children with too much time and money had been playing for ages and beat us narrowly.
A bracing walk along the front was next
Eventually we arrived at Broomfield Rd
Spot us just behind the goal in red and yellow?
As we all know, top scorer in all England Keiffer Moore was beginning a three match ban for a punch on a Brizzle player last week. Warne had decided to take advantage of his absence by changing the formation completely and going five at the back with the full backs operating as wing backs. Surely five useless defenders is better than four? In the place of Moore he was trying out JCH and DaBall. The night before the game Frecks had come down with an ‘illness’ (again), and with Joe Newell pulling out just before the game we were down to the bare bones.
The first half proved to be one of the most abject performances from a Millers side since, Well, last season, with Mattock* And JCH both particularly dire. It was a miracle that we went in at the break only one goal down, and that from a wonderful strike by Blackpool’s Kevin Mellor. We spent the break discussing whether or not we would still follow the team in the National league, which appeared to be where we were heading at that point.
To Warnes credit, he made a half time double substitution, replacing Mike and JCH with Jerry Yates and Anthony Forde. That may be the last we ever see of Mr Clarke-Harris, he has never recovered from the cruciate injury of last season. It’s a shame because he has some really interesting tweets. The change meant that the defence could go back to doing what they are best at, defending. (😂) And that both of our strikers would move.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of my statement from a previous blog entry. The one where I declared my feeling that DaBall would come good and take over the mantle of Moore*. If you recall that, you will also recall the fact that Ian and Vicky both scoffed at the very idea.
Straight from the off we were infinitely improved. Blackpool started to panic and Richard Wood’s magic hat song rang out as he hit the bar with a header. It seemed inevitable that a goal was coming, and it duly arrived from a long throw by Will Vaulkes. The defence hesitated as if Semi Ajayi was playing for them not us, and DaBall pounced. 1-1
As befits a true hero, a DaBall song began to ring out. To the tune of Gold by Spandau Ballet.
‘Day vid Ball, always believing you’ll score.’
In the 87th minute It got better. A peach of a corner from Forde found 5ft 2in DaBall’s head, and he flicked it beyond the keeper for his, and the Millers, second. 2-1
The fans went wild. Never have Spandau Ballet got as much exposure in Blackpool. We even managed to hang on for the final few minutes. Our first win in eight, and the first time we had come from behind to win for four years. What a player that DaBall is. It looks like we’ve found ourselves a striker.
Next up, Plymouth at home
Man of the match
Ian - DaBall
Jackie - DaBall
Vicky -DaBall
Toiletwatch
Very clean. Warm. Hot, hot water. Lots of towels. Reminded vicky of the down the spiral staircase toilets at Don Valley. Still clean with hot, hot water after the match. 9/10
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