Nomads Battle Through To Clinch Sylvia Ray Title

Rochdale Nomads with the Sylvia Ray Memorial Trophy

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Rochdale Nomads 4 – 1 Prince Albert
Sylvia Ray Memorial Trophy Final

Rochdale Nomads didn’t have things all their own way in battling through to win the Sylvia Ray Memorial Trophy against a youthful Prince Albert outfit who had done well to reach the final after a difficult first league campaign. Had Albert had been able to apply the finishing touches to some good moves the final would have been somewhat closer but the more experienced Nomads took advantage of defensive errors to deservedly win the title.

Nomads began the game strongly as the young Albert outfit struggled to find their feet on the big occasion. Anthony Royle caused problems for the Albert defence throughout the evening and it came as no surprise when he opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes after a poor goal kick from Dave Reed fell straight to the Nomads front man and he made no mistake when through on goal to give his side the early advantage.

Nomads continued to create the better of the chances and it was Royle who was getting on the end of them and he could have doubled his side’s lead as he first turned and fired just over and then headed wide from a Russell Irvine corner. Nomads didn’t have things all their own way and Dean Lewis could have equalised for Albert but failed to compose himself and blasted over the bar after good work from early substitute Kieran Worthington down the right.

With half an hour played Nomads made it two after Craig Dixon burst past a few Albert challenges before being forced wide. His cross caused the Albert defence problems and Royle claimed his second of the game by getting between two defenders and heading the ball home; there was some dispute over whether it was an own goal but Royle was not to be denied a brace in the cup final and he was duly credited with the strike.

With the first half coming to a close, Nomads put one hand firmly on the trophy by scoring a third; a Venables free-kick found an unmarked Dixon and he made no mistake in firing a header beyond the helpless Reed in the Prince Albert goal.

The second half brought a much less one sided affair and Prince Albert set about regaining some respect by throwing everything at Nomads and they created some excellent chances which would have put them right back in the contest had they been taken; Worthington fired wide when he should have hit the target before Doraz squandered a golden opportunity by heading wide from a corner with the goal at his mercy. With Albert now attacking at will they left themselves exposed at the back and Royle looked to take advantage and secure his hat-trick after rounding the goalkeeper but Finnerty did well to block the ball on the line.

Prince Albert gained the goal their attacking endeavour deserved and with plenty of time to go and with Nomads tiring, the game was back on. An excellent run from Allan down the left flank took him into the penalty area and he bore down on McLaughlin in the Nomads goal but the striker unselfishly squared the ball to Worthington who had the simple task of tapping home.

The goal gave Albert hope and they continued to press but they couldn’t finish their chances and Nomad’s lead was not troubled further. The Nomad’s goal lived a charmed life; a series of corners for Albert resulted in a few scrambles and a clearance off the line. Nomads made their task even harder for themselves with twenty minutes to go as Craig Dixon got himself sent off for an off the ball incident. Albert pressed further with their opposition depleted and Doraz should have notched their second after McLaughlin could only parry a long range effort but the young midfielder blasted over from six yards.

Nomads secured the cup with the ultimate punishment for the missed chance as they went up the other end and scored their fourth; Royle securing his hat-trick in the process with a cool finish over Reed. Albert battled to the end and they could hold their heads high after a spirited display which contradicted their status at the bottom of the Fourth Division. In the end Nomads experience saw them through after a professional display; they took advantage of their chances whereas Albert failed to make the most of theirs. Nomads were deserving winners of the Sylvia Ray Memorial Trophy but the cup final experience will have done no harm to the young Prince Albert side.