Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Final

The ROAFL’s Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy Final for 2012-13 was finally played on the last day of the season in superb weather and on a playing surface fit to grace any final.

Whitworth Valley’s Rawstron Street pitch was in immaculate condition thanks to the hours put in prior to, and on the day itself, by groundsman Michael Blud and the shining sun brought a decent crowd through the gates to watch.

Both Balderstone 2nds and Fothergill & Whittles 3rds had exited the President’s Cup in the second round and received byes in the first round of the A&M. Balderstone had then beaten Hargreaves and White Lion to reach the final whilst F&W had overcome their own 2nd team ! and AFC Royton to join them and it was they who enjoyed the better of the opening stages.

Howe shot over from distance after he had created his own opening and then Collins had a low shot well gathered by the experienced Jason Kay in his second coming as Balderstone’s custodian.

Petrillo brought the first of what transpired to be a veritable catalogue of excellent saves from Nick Grindrod in the F&W goal as his curling free kick in the tenth minute was destined for the top corner before Grindrod turned it over.

With Collins playing a dominant role in the first quarter for Fothergills, Culshaw had a shot tipped over by Kay before Gibson sprang the Balderstone offside trap and latched onto Kibble’s though ball to open the scoring after sixteen minutes.

Balderstone were quick to reply as Petrillo shot over twice in quick succession and half hearted appeals for a penalty were waved away by match referee Gordon Schofield, but with Sunderland and Johnson dominant in the air Fothergills were more than holding their own against their higher ranked opponents.

With the early introduction of Tommy Sands, Balderstone were upping the tempo, and the atmosphere, as Fothergill's Holt went into the book for a clumsy challenge on Sands and then Balderstone’s Holt joined him moments later.

Whilst Fothergills continued to cause problems with diagonal balls over the top for their wide men, Balderstone were keeping the ball on the floor and Sands’ direct running was creating space and chances at the opposite end.

In the final moments of the half, Sands was in round the back again but his pull back was slightly deflected and Faulkner’s more difficult shooting opportunity ended in yet another deflection for a corner, from which Baron’s header was cleared off the line by Holt and the half time whistle followed.

Balderstone were clearly not happy with their overall first half performance and no doubt came back out after a frank exchange of views, led by manager Nathan Agg, in the changing rooms at the break.

Fothergills  created the better of the opening exchanges in the second half with Kay needlessly conceding a corner and Culshaw firing wide when well positioned.

Howe became the third player in the referee’s book after kicking the ball away.

Sands was through on goal down the left hand side only for Grindrod to turn the ball behind by the foot of his near post.

Baron headed wide from the resultant corner but Balderstone pressure was growing and it was developing into the Sands verses Grindrod show as the Balderstone man was constantly running at, and past, opposition players only to find Grindrod in inspired form in goal for his side as he tipped over Byrne’s thirty yarder, blocked Faulkner’s low effort and recovered to turn away Sands close range shot.

Simpson headed wide from yet another Balderstone corner and it was becoming increasingly apparent that it was likely to be one of those days for Nathan Agg’s side especially when Sands swivelled and shot from twelve yards only to see Grindrod’s reflex reaction parry the ball away to safety.

As time began to ebb away Fothergills were being pushed deeper and deeper, but defending with admirable resolution, and, as so often happens, then came close to a second goal themselves as a rare foray into the Balderstone area saw Kibble’s header cleared off the line.

The final ten minutes belonged to Balderstone as Baron and Chaplin had efforts saved and Dylan Kay, pushed up front late on, seemed destined to equalise only for Culshaw to execute a vital block to clear the danger.

Sands was denied by an offside decision and Faulkner sliced well wide from inside the box before the final whistle sounded much to the delight of the Fothergills players, manager John Whittall and the many supporters who flooded the pitch to celebrate.

League Chairman Jason Croke presented the trophy to the Fothergill & Whittles' captain, Andy Kibble, and medals to both sets of players, who conducted themselves in a manner befitting the true spirit of grass roots football after the game, as well as throughout it, and to the match officials, Gordon Schofield and his assistants, Ste Coop and Trevor Mayne.