Boston United 0-3 Rochdale (National League)
The opening weekend of the football season has me heading East to see some old friends at Boston United as they return to the fifth tier of English football for the first time since 2002.
Promoted from the National League North after playoff success in May, the Pilgrims had spent fourteen seasons in the sixth tier of English football but have re-acquainted themselves with the likes of Rochdale who were an old football league foe from the early part of the millennium.
A quick fact-check and I've somehow never previously watched Rochdale play in person. A new team on show for me at least, but one I know plenty about, founded 117 years ago they were famously in the fourth tier of English football for 36 straight years between 1974 and 2010 before promotion to League One where they spent four years, suffering relegation in 2014, they eventually dropped out of the Football League after 102 years in 2023 and are now in their second season trying to get back in it.
Rochdale gaffer is Jimmy McNulty, still officially 'player manager' having originally taken the job as caretaker in 2022. A centre half by tradition and one with over 200 appearances for the Dale. A real cult hero at Spotland.
Another former defender and cult hero (with largely Norwich City) is Boston boss Ian Culverhouse, now leading the Pilgrims charge for a third season, he's had some enforced changes this summer with strike duo Jimmy Knowles and Kelsey Mooney leaving for Accrington Stanley, Boston have picked up Dan Mooney from Altrincham, Sam Osbourne from Buxton, Frankie Maguire from Chorley and Tony Weston on loan from Derby County amongst others.
Rochdale have also rung in the summer changes, amongst them Tarryn Allarakhia joins from Wealdstone, Toby Adebayo-Rowling joins from Notts County, Sam Beckwith from Maidenhead and Aaron Henry on loan from Charlton, word is they'll be having a serious go at promotion this season.
The Venue
I'm off out the door for 12:30pm as I switch on Leeds United v Portsmouth on the radio during my journey, overcast but the sun is peeping out, it's warm and windy as I casually commute down the A52 towards Lincolnshire.
It's one of my favourite drives on the single-track carriageway through the flat fields of middle Eastern England, I cut through Grantham and keep heading towards the coast before crossing the A17 and through the village of Kirton End, before pulling up in Wyberton five minutes’ walk from the ground.
You can feel the anticipation of that first game of the season with excitement in the air, the walk across the A16 delightful with fans in Amber shirts talking amongst each other, as I arrive at the ticket office to get my pass, there's a Rochdale fan complaining that he's had to pay extra for the bus, ‘some people are never happy’, as the lady in the ticket office vents her frustration to me. "Only 46 games to go" I tell her.
Ticket in hand I'm through the turnstile of the Main Stand at the Jakemans, I'm asked to wait an age for a cuppa as it feels the new seasons catering staff are far prepared for the 1:30pm rush of all of five people, finally brew in hand I'm up to my seat in front of Radio Lincoln at the back of the stand pleasantly perched with a cracking summer Saturdays view.
It's a wonderful modern stadium of three ‘finished’ sides and it impresses those from Rochdale who visit for a first time, a packed house too as I'm joined by a fellow scout who I've not seen since last season, it's always great to catch up with familiar faces, as I notice players’ wives, girlfriends, mums and dads in attendance, a real family feel as Boston begin life at level 5 with an ear of real optimism.
The Game
Boston start well too, they have that tenacity and ferocity in their early play to get their fans on side and singing, but with their high press on Rochdale’s back-line they often leave themselves exposed at the back, their own high line exposed on a couple of occasions but for close calls with the linesman’s flag.
Rochdale have been caught offside on four or five occasions but it’s a risky tactic by Boston, and one which fails on fifteen minutes as Devante Rodney breaks through, he’s left one-on-one before casually rounding the goalkeeper and putting the away side one up.
That settles the nerves in the away end and it’s the Dale fans now in full voice, the home side revert to conceding possession as their pressing game falters in to what feels like two banks of five, the first half is competitive and largely unimpressive in the final third, but one man showing a bit of quality is Rodney, he has time and space to prod home a second just five minutes before the break, it’s a deserved double for him and his side who look much the stronger of the two teams on show.
The Score
After Boston concede to their credit, they go straight up the other end and could have halved the deficit at the break, Mills going close and Weston blazing over on the stroke of half time. I expect them to come out of the traps quickly in the second half, but the visitors shut up shop, protect what they have got, and use their experience to see the game out in style.
It’s far from classic, as the game counts down, Rochdale taking time with throw-ins, with goal-kicks, the new sub rule in the National League allows five players to enter the field from each team on five different occasions, this stretches the half out further even towards it’s inevitable conclusion.
There is a chance for another goal, all be it well into injury time as a shot onto the crossbar is headed home from close range by Ian Henderson, another Rochdale cult hero now 39-years-old, still bagging goals, right place, right time, he runs off to dance in front of the celebrating fans as the home team supporters head for the exits.
The Stars
Devante Rodney was the best player on the park, now 26 he’s a powerhouse striker who’s solid and composed, holding the ball up well his movement was great and he never looked like missing when the two opportunities he had, landed at his feet.
At the other end, experienced centre half Ethan Ebanks-Landell was quietly brilliant, given time on the ball he played with the proverbial cigar but when needed, made one great block and won everything that came to him in the air. Rochdale’s 3-5-2 system allowing him to centrally sit comfortably with Kyron Gordon to his right and Sam Beckwith in particular, to his left, also playing well.
In midfield, the Dale were dominant with Harvey Gilmour also impressing but it was out wide where I feel they’ll get a lot of joy this season, Tarryn Allarakhia didn’t have a brilliant debut but he has technic and sophistication when cutting in from the left, Toby Adebayo-Rowling a player I liked from Notts County, is a direct winger who gets back and puts a shift in, he’s quick and plays balls into the box, uncomplicated, and could be a great signing with goals contributions assured from the right.
For Boston, not one of their better days, the experienced defender Michael Bostwick perhaps the one who looked most comfortable with the step up, but credit Tony Weston and Frankie Maguire, two young new signings who ran about and worked their socks off.
The Verdict
Boston are a big club, and losing games like this will hurt, and I no doubt expect them to invest until they get it right, which might ensure they pull themselves towards safety by the season end.
Rochdale are also a big club, and they have expectancy for promotion this season. My own tips of Barnet and Gateshead might need to be reviewed as I’ve overlooked a team well equipped to be challenging at the right end, only 45 games remain but I expect them to be at least playoff fodder, whilst should the Pilgrims achieve anything higher than 20th, it’ll be a huge success for them.
The Teams
Boston United: Cameron Gregory, Cameron Green, Mitch Roberts, Michael Bostwick, Dan Mooney (Keaton Ward 84), Jai Rowe, Tony Weston (Sam Osborne 78), Pemi Aderoju (Jacob Hazel 70), Jordan Richards (Dylan Hill 84), Frankie Maguire (Martin Woods 70), Zak Mills.
Rochdale: Luke McNicholas, Kyron Gordon, Aaron Henry (Ryan East 70), Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Tarryn Allarakhia (Finlay Armstrong 83), Harvey Gilmour, Kairo Mitchell, Devante Rodney (Ian Henderson 89), Tobi Adebayo-Rowling (Ody Alfa 90), Connor McBride (Jake Burger 64), Sam Beckwith.
3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 10th August 2024, Jakemans Stadium, Boston (att 2,578).
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