First off, I've got to say how disappointed we Townies must be to see that Rochdale pulled off a shock result on Wednesday night at Cougar Park - because we wanted the honour of being the first team to beat the Keighley pussy cats in NFP action this season, didn't we?

While admitting the visit of a strong looking Keighley team, (a club that in modern times have been something of a jinx regarding Town successes), was always going to be a tester for Gary's charges. I did feel quite(ish) confident(ish) that IF the mood was right, straight from kicking off in ANGER that is, we could take the Cougars on Sunday.

So what has their succumbing to the Hornets at the fortress Cougar Park done for our hopes? One way of looking at it is that perhaps Keighley are not the force the current league table would have us believe. However Rochdale may also be smarter than their position indicates. Has one recent signing transformed Hornets for the season?

My own concern, and here I go again with the worry beads, is that Steve Deakin will have probably kicked ass - and Sundays visitors will be more fired up than ever. In fact I'm sure they will be out to regain lost pride, and the Town match will be seen as the ideal face-saver. I had written my Town Review notes, and despatched them, prior to Wednesday night's matches.. by the way Whitehaven did well too, albeit against an injury hit Fev. Not that I'm taking anything away from a good win by the 'jammies'...well would I?

Anyway enough digressive stuff, back to the milk lappers of West Yorkshire. I think I have mentioned my distaste for this outfit on here before, and how they have soured my feelings for them. If not let me add that I rate these tykes only second to Whitehaven as my least fave club, and in the town programme I just could not resist having a laal pop at Keighley RLFC. It's not because they have been the aforementioned jinxy- minxes too often, (honest) that Keighley annoy me. Actually they really started to bug me during a Town win at Lawkholme Lane ten years ago. 7/3/91..10-15.

A midweek match sparsely attended (714), and while I like to shout for my team - no matter what, a sprinkling of home fanatics took rare exception to me urging the Town on. So they insulted me greatly by retorting with a stinging and very original.. "shut up baldy". Well I was livid with rage. So much so that when the match finished I went back to my car, where my dog had been patiently ensconced, I then walked it out onto a deserted pitch....upon where it pooed. Good doggy eh?

Obviously while that's true, about the insults and dump, it is not totally the full story why I don't like visiting Cougar Park. It was though the beginnings of a love hate relationship during the following decade. And for those who may wonder, the visit to Keighley never fazed me re a Town defeat - because I'm always pessimist before any away match. But primarily the Cougar fans do get on my t**s. One even would have me thrown out of their stand one year…for calling one of their players a laal sh*t The tannoy explaining bad language is frowned upon at Keighley, hells fire how touchy!! I mean it's not really a swear word as such is it?…..however my dog is still full of it, (surely someone/ a tyke can respond to that?), but sadly Town don't appear at Cougar Park this season. Oh well at least the recre is handier I suppose.
K.S.