TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 NOTTS COUNTY 1 ROCHDALE 2
THIS evening, I am back at my old stomping ground: Meadow Lane. The Magpies are offering tickets for a tenner to watch the FA Cup first round replay against Rochdale. It’s not a bad offer even though I am being charged an extra £1.20 to print off my ticket at home. Eh? How does that work?!
I turn up at the ground early, as is my habit. I meet up with some old friends, some of whom I was travelling to Notts away matches with 25 years ago or more!
Anyway, after a lovely catch up, I hand over £3 for tonight’s cardboard programme and flash my printed off ticket, which is scanned electronically.
As well as the usual burger van outside the ground, there’s one just inside the main gates. There are also a couple of refreshments kiosks under the main stand. County’s pies were once voted the tastiest in the League but those days are long gone. A quirky fact is that pies sold in the Magpie Club for £2, cost £3.20 inside the ground. Stunning, glossy teamsheets (20p) are available from the cabin near the turnstiles.
The view from any of the seats is pretty good. I sit high in the Derek Pavis Stand, named after the chairman who financed the refurbishment of the old stadium when elite grounds were forced to become all-seater venues.
The Family Stand behind one goal is closed tonight, with the bulk of home fans housed in the Main Stand along one touchline and in The Kop behind the other goal. A total of 307 away fans are housed in a small section of the Jimmy Sirrel Stand. Both sets of fans create a good atmosphere.
The opening exchanges are pretty even. Rochdale gradually take control and are one up at the break. In the second half, the visitors inexplicably sit back, allowing Notts to gain momentum. The equaliser is a strange one. A cross is sent in to the back post from the left where Aidy White is marking Aaron Nemane. The Dale defender seems to get a nudge from Nemane and the ball ends up in the net off the unfortunate defender. Everyone pauses, awaiting the referee’s whistle for a foul but the Acme Thunderer only sounds to indicate a goal!
To make matters worse, poor White is injured in the incident and has to be substituted while Notts fans give him a standing ovation for scoring the own goal.
Both sides go for the win. County seem to have earned a draw but then, Rochdale snatch a last minute goal: it is the visitors who will face Plymouth in the next round. Heartbreaking but I’ve seen it all before!