Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Fothergill & Whittles are through to their second successive Chairman’s Cup final following their resounding victory over closest rivals, FC Littleborough, and now wait to see if there is to be a repeat of last season’s final as holders Walsden meet White Lion in the second semi final on Saturday.

A close match was expected following Littleborough’s narrow victory when the two sides met in the league a month ago, but it was clear that Fothergill & Whittles were determined to avenge that loss as they started in top gear and raced into a three goal lead inside eleven minutes.

Strong appeals for a penalty were also turned down with Littleborough’s back line all over the place, as individual and collective errors contributed to the deficit.

Chris Holbrook reduced the arrears with a well taken goal on the half hour, but his side’s hopes of getting to half time just two goals in arrears were undone by another defensive lapse to send Fothergills in 4-1 to the good.

With skipper Danny Armitage and Liam Jackson dominating the midfield exchanges Fothergill’s fifth goal effectively sealed the tie minutes in to the second half, and try as they might Littleborough could do nothing about it.

Man-of-the-match Sam Lee was turning them inside out and their afternoon was summed up on the hour mark as keeper Whitelaw’s hurried clearance was volleyed spectacularly back over his head and into the net by Ryan Bocock from a good ten yards inside his own half.

Lee (4), Ryan Healey (2), Bocock, Josh Crook, Sam Holt and Nathan Shepherd were Fothergill’s scorers - manager Nick Sunderland is hoping that such an unexpectedly emphatic victory would fire a title challenge over the second half of the season.

Fothergill currently stand nine points astray of leaders Rochdale Sacred Heart, with two games in hand, after Heart’s sixth league victory of their best ever season in the ROAFL - two goals from Jack Lyons and one from Hatel Patel giving them a 3-1 victory over Falcon.

White Lion can overhaul them if they win both games in hand, and they won the semi final dress rehearsal against Walsden thanks to goals from Travis Edwards (2), Tom Currie, Aaron Nuttall and Elliot Whalley.

This defeat probably signals the end of Walsden’s title chances so the double cup winners of last season will be out to turn the tables this Saturday.

The division’s two winless teams, Sudden and Chadderton Park, are still winless following their 2-2 draw at Crossley. Andrew Fulham scored twice for Chadderton Park; Tony Knight and Fitz McKenzie earned Sudden a point.

The season’s most significant result in Division One saw Fothergill & Whittles 2nds beaten at home by Rochdale Galaxy, despite two goals from Vastarella and one from Webster - a defeat that leaves Rochdale Asia thirteen points clear at the top following their routine five goal away win at Falcon 2nds. The sides meet again on Saturday in the second semi final of the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy.

Wardle OB moved up to third with a 2-1 home win over Chadderton Park 2nds. Jonathan and Chris Dewhurst with the goals.

Balderstone are fourth with Hancock, Faulkner and Kelly on the scoresheet against Horse & Farrier at Matthew Moss.

Both of Saturday’s semi finals take place at Firgrove (kick off 2pm), as does the crucial Premier Division clash between Rochdale Sacred Heart and Fothergill & Whittles, with the latter really needing all three points to fire that title challenge mentioned earlier.