Final of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League President’s Cup

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

This coming Saturday, the 23 May, sees the final of the President’s Cup take place at Mayfield Sports Centre, Castleton; the third and last Rochdale Online Alliance Football League cup final of the season.

Walsden C&FC have reached their second final in seven days after beating Rochdale Sacred Heart 2-0 in a tense and often fraught semi final on Monday night, and they will face Rochdale Asia, who overcame Falcon 3-1 at Firgrove last Saturday.

The two league encounters have ended with honours even, Rochdale Asia winning 2-0 at Walsden on the opening day of the season, whilst Walsden edged the return fixture in November by the odd goal in seven.

Curiously, both finalists were drawn in the preliminary round of this season’s competition, and neither have had a straightforward path to the final.

Walsden have beaten Falcon 2nds 4-0, White Lion 4-2, Fothergill & Whittles 6-4 on penalties and RSH 2-0, whilst Rochdale Asia won 3-0 at Woodbank, 6-5 at home to Rochdale Galaxy, 5-0 at FW Rovers and 3-1 against Falcon.

Walsden will be hoping Cameron Hanson recovers from injury in time for Saturday.

Rochdale Asia will focus their game plan on providing the best possible for service for Omar Malik and Michael Rushton, one of the most, if not the most, potent strike forces in the division.

Admission is £2 adults and £1 concessions payable on the gate and the final kicks off at 2pm.

Spectators are respectfully reminded that no alcohol will be allowed into the ground.

Rochdale Asia FC (team to be selected from)
Osama Alwarfarli, Syed Hussain, Zaheer Hussain, Sheraz Hussein, Mohammed Imran, Rehan Khan, Sufyan Khan, Asad Mahmood, Umar Mahmood, Omar Malik, Zahid Maqbool, Mohammed Munawar, Lee O’Neil, Kashif Rafiq, Mohammed Usman Rauf, Omar Rashid, Michael Rushton, Aiden Shah, Mohammed Zaman

Walsden C&FC (team to be selected from)
Stevie Barker, Thomas Barnes, Gary Brierley, Daniel Brown, Glynn Claxton, Joe Gale, Josh Gale, Cameron Hanson, Christian Hughes, Paul Marrow, James Peavoy, Nathan Rooks, James Steven, Jonathan Sutcliffe, Mathew Town, Daniel Welsh, Harry Whitehead

Match Officials
Mike Willmore (Referee)
Tony Andrews and Alex Johnston (Assistant Referees)
Andrew Perrin (Fourth Official)