Dale 1 Bantams 2

What a difference five months make. Last April, Dale thrashed the Bantams 3-0 to put paid to any promotion chances we may have harboured. Now granted, this was the Johnson Paints trophy, and Rochdale had shed a few players since that win, but it was a good performance by the lads, who look like they are starting to gel. It was good to see them roll up their sleeves and dig deep after going behind. First Flynn drove a pile driver through the Dale wall to beat the keeper, and only a few minutes later a deflected Nielson effort caught Rochdale s custodian of his line, and the game was won. The lad who scored the winner looks a definite upgrade over the departed and unlamented Joe Colbeck. Our head down, headless chicken has flown the coop, and will for the next few months be driving the fans of Oldham to distraction with his utter uselessness. It was nice to see a cup win as well, and the Shotgun curse was finally lifted, the good Doctor finally witnessing an away victory. It's not quite time to be getting carried away, I do realise it is a Mickey Mouse cup, but after the dreadful end to last season, light appears to be visible at the end of the tunnel.

Pie Rating- The concession stand and Spotland is a shining beacon of how one should run. There is a queue barrier, manned by a steward to prevent line jumpers. A PINT, not a bottle, of lager is £3, and the pies come in at a recession busting £2. And they are magnificent. So good in fact, that my accomplice and I scarfed two of them.

Steak and Kidney- Just the right temperature, stuffed full of meat, and the most succulent of gravies. The pastry was just about perfect. All for two shiny pound coins. Heaven in a crust. Last years winner will take some beating 9/10

Meat & Potato- I am not the biggest of fans of this variety. I don't really trust a filling that is just called "Meat," but this was an excellent offering, if not quite the equal of the Steak one mentioned above. Plenty of filling, seasoned with pepper, and not suffering the cardinal sin of being watery/soggy in the middle. A solid 8/10

Guest Pie Rating- Comes from the good Dr Shotgun. He stuck to the Meat and Taaty, and scarfed a couple of them. He was a bit disappointed with the first one, it was served at Meltdown temperature, but was redeemed by the secondary one. Served just right, the Professor proclaimed a 7.5/10.