White Lion win Chairman’s Cup on penalties

Cup winners White Lion

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Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division Champions White Lion added the Chairman’s Cup to their trophy cabinet following a penalty shoot out victory against close rivals Fothergill & Whittles at Rochdale Sacred Heart last Friday evening.

The recent fine weather meant the Fox Park surface was in fine condition, if a little hard under foot, and both sides struggled early on to bring a measure of control to their play.

Fothergill seemed unusually nervous and could have been a goal down in the first minute when keeper Nick Grindrod spilled a low shot from Tom Currie, resulting in an almighty scramble in the Fothergill box.

As White Lion began to settle and enjoy the better of the midfield contest Jonny Munson was played in by Lewis Parton only for Grindrod to turn his shot away for a corner kick which came to nothing.

With Ste Cass enjoying the early spoils in his personal battle with Liam Jackson it came as something of a surprise when Fothergill opened the scoring in the fourteenth minute. Toby Hudson was fouled on the edge of the White Lion area by Alex Whittaker, and from the resultant free kick Neil McNulty spilt the ball and Sam Lee was on hand to turn the ball home before he could recover.

Ryan Healey headed wide from the next Fothergill corner kick.

Munson shot narrowly wide at the other end as the game began to open out, with Fothergill clearly boosted by their lead.

The game had also developed an edge with Jackson the first player into referee Alex Johnston’s book for dissent, closely followed by Munson, who might well have seen a different colour for his needless kick out at Nathan Shepherd.

Chances came and went at both ends with Currie firing over from another set piece.

Tempers frayed again with Cass booked for a foul on Jackson and Shepherd for retribution against Munson.

The dangerous Currie was narrowly wide with another effort as Danny Wolstenholme continued to defy Fothergill at the opposite end with some immaculate defensive play, but the former’s game ended early as he was forced off by injury just short of half time.

Travis Edwards replaced him and shortly afterwards Fothergill were forced into a change of their own as Sam Duggan replaced Healey, and the additional time accrued through those changes almost saw White Lion level but Grindrod made a reaction stop to prevent John Stott from sending the teams in level.

The second half started with McNulty saving comfortably from Hudson as his side looked for the goal to get them back into the game, with Munson again narrowly wide from distance and Edwards following suit moments later.

The game was now settling into a clearer pattern, with White Lion enjoying the greater possession yet Fothergill looking the more likely to add to their lead on the break through the elusive Hudson in particular.

Twice Fothergill's influential skipper Danny Armitage headed clear from set pieces, and Grindrod made a crucial save with his foot as Munson seemed certain to score after being sent clear down the middle by Cass.

With Andrew Bowe working down the right hand side to increasingly significant effect it seemed a goal had to come and, with fourteen minutes to play, it did as Bowe’s low cross cum shot was palmed across the face of his own goal by Grindrod and James Matthews levelled matters from close range.

Fothergill introduced their leading scorer Andy White, returning from injury, and he almost had an immediate impact as his first attempt was blocked and he stabbed the rebound agonisingly wide with the goal gaping.

Hudson was played in by another long ball over the top but McNulty saved superbly with an outstretched foot, before the bar came to White Lion’s rescue as Whittaker inadvertently lifted the ball over his own keeper, with the rebound ending safely in McNulty’s hands.

There was still time for Hudson to run clear and shoot wide before the final whistle signaled the need for extra time, that saw the pattern of the second half extended, as White Lion continued to knock the ball around without significantly testing Grindrod.

White and Hudson continued to look dangerous on the break with McNulty producing the save of the night to turn White’s late effort over the bar.

The final whistle was blown, with the sides locked together at 1-1, signalling the need for the unloved penalty shoot out to decide the winners on the evening - the initial nervousness was back as the sides were still locked together at 1-1 after three penalties apiece.

White and Dixon for Fothergill, alongside McNulty and Wolstenholme for White Lion, took the shoot out to sudden death at 3-3 before McNulty then saved Fothergill's sixth penalty and Grindrod could only push Edwards’ spot kick just inside his own post to give the champions a league and cup double.

League Chairman Jason Croke made the presentation to White Lion captain Ste Cass and his successful side in the club house following the game.

Neil McNulty won the man-of-the-match award for his overall display and three crucial saves in the penalty shoot out.

The match officials, Alex Johnston, Ste Bond and Iain McDonald also received their medals, with Johnston, who produced a mature performance beyond his years, also winner of the Referee of the Season award.