Fothergill & Whittles 2nds President’s Cup winners

Fothergill & Whittles 2nds crowned a memorable Rochdale Online Alliance Football League season by adding the President’s Cup to their Division 1 title

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Fothergill & Whittles 2nds crowned a memorable Rochdale Online Alliance Football League season by adding the President’s Cup to their Division 1 title with a hard fought 3-1 win over Sudden FC at a wet and windy Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday.

With the unseasonal rain falling in torrents in the forty eight hours prior to the final it was a credit to the hard work and dedication of the ground staff that the game got the go ahead following a lengthy pre match inspection, and only after committee members chipped in to remove surface water following another heavy downpour minutes before kick off.

The early exchanges were even, as both sides took time to adjust to the heavy conditions down the middle of the pitch, and the first real action came in the eighth minute as a surging run down the left from Fothergills’ leading scorer Andy White was ended by a foul drawn from Carlo Carullo, the Sudden player manager.

The free kick came to nothing and both sides continued to enjoy possession, without creating much at their business end of the pitch, until the game sparked into life with three presentable chances in the space of two minutes.

The first opportunity fell to Sudden’s leading scorer Fitz McKenzie as he latched onto a ball over the top only to fire over from twelve yards.

Play switched as Fothergills’ David Colllins found space on the right hand side, but shot early and wide when he might have done better, before Nick Lawlor then did exactly the same for Sudden.

Another heavy downpour soon followed and both teams were now finding it more difficult than usual to move the ball around, though Fothergills were beginning to push Sudden back with Chris Johnson heading wide from Collins’ cross and a snap shot from White bringing a good save from Chris Chaplin in the Sudden goal.

From the ensuing corner Johnson headed wide, and received a bang on the head for his troubles, but his recovery was aided no doubt by the next move of the match which saw Fothergills take the lead after thirty minutes. A Sudden attack ended with Nick Sunderland’s interception and pass to Collins who quickly released White and the Fothergills striker made no mistake as he rounded Chaplin and slotted the ball home.

Sudden’s response was immediate as Carullo picked up a loose ball thirty five yards from goal and, with limited support, decided to take a chance and his powerful shot picked up a deflection on its way over Nick Grindrod into the Fothergills net to level matters.

Danny Holmes saw his shot blocked by Sunderland and Fothergills forced a couple of late corners that came to nothing as the half time whistle came with the match evenly poised.

Early second half Fothergills’ pressure was aided and abetted by the heavy rain being blown into the Sudden players’ faces as White went on another mazy run, which resulted in nothing more than a corner for his side, before Whitworth drew a good save from Grindrod and Dean Teasdale shot over from the edge of the box after another quick Sudden break.

Fothergills’ first change came on the hour mark as Harrison Howe replaced Tom Gibson but from the restart they were almost behind as Holmes headed just wide for Sudden from a set piece.

A mix up between Gary Mason and Chaplin nearly let in Johnson, who then shot wide moments later following another defensive slip in the Sudden ranks, before the next Fothergills’ attack did result in them regaining the lead. White was released down the left hand side and drew another needless challenge from Carullo which resulted in a penalty, calmly converted by Collins, with Carullo picking up the game’s first yellow card for dissent.

Tom Culshaw replaced Sunderland, and McKenzie fired wide for Sudden, before the game’s only flashpoint occurred as Holmes and goalscorer Johnson faced up to each other, with Mason getting himself involved before the situation resolved itself amicably.

Holmes then headed wide again and Martyn Kean missed a glorious opportunity to level matters following a goalmouth scramble.

With Sudden beginning to enjoy more of the ball Fothergills were being pushed back as the game entered the final quarter of an hour, but a Fothergills’ corner that went straight out of play on the opposite side was to prove the catalyst for the game’s decisive fourth goal. From the throw in Fothergills regained possession and White’s flick on was squeezed past Chaplin at the back post by Tyler Greenwood to give his side a 3-1 lead.

Sudden replaced Azhar Iqbal with James McArdle and continued to press forward, with Carullo heading wide from another set piece as the game entered seven minutes of additional time.

Johnson headed over for Fothergills, as Sudden replaced Kean with Gary McArdle, and Whitworth shot wide before being cautioned for an off the ball incident seen by the referee.

Sudden continued to press to the end and Nathan Shepherd, the Fothergills’ captain, became the third caution of the afternoon, after catching Holmes with a late tackle, but their afternoon was summed up in the ninety seventh minute when McKenzie finally found enough space in the box to chest the ball down and volley sweetly past Grindrod, only for the assistant’s offside flag on the far side to deny him and his team a deserved second goal.

The final whistle confirmed Fothergills’ double success and credit both sides for an entertaining final in difficult conditions.

After the game League Chairman Jason Croke thanked Rochdale Town FC and Mayfield Sports Centre for their organisation and hospitality, before League President John Culshaw presented the President’s Cup and First Division League Trophy to Fothergills’ Player Manager Nick Sunderland and team captain Nathan Shepherd, and the Man of the Match Award to Fothergills’ Andy White.

Sudden Player Manager Carlo Carullo and vice captain Nick Lawlor received the runners up medals for both competitions from John Culshaw at the end of a very successful season for the club that augers well for their future.