Fothergill & Whittles 2nds win Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy Final

Fothergill & Whittles 2nd with the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy

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Fothergill & Whittles 2nds added more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet with an emphatic 5-1 victory over first time finalists Rochdale Galaxy in the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy Final was played at Mayfield Sports Centre in Castleton.

Galaxy won the toss and should have opened the scoring inside three minutes on a dry but overcast evening when Fothergill's experienced keeper Gary Taylor dropped a routine cross at Teejay Rigby’s feet, but the Galaxy forward couldn’t react quickly enough and the chance was gone.

Fothergill then created two good chances of their own in what, in truth, was a scrappy opening period due to the ball spending too much time in the air, but Ben Jorgensen shot into the side netting when well placed and Andrew Law had edged offside before turning Tom Culshaw’s header into the Galaxy goal.

Rigby shot inches wide with Taylor a spectator before David Collins produced a goal from nothing to give his side the lead on thirteen minutes, as he lifted a bouncing ball high over Jason Hughes and into the back of the Galaxy goal from all of thirty yards out.

A moment of genius, or pure speculation, was still being discussed in the stands as Fothergill doubled their lead inside sixty seconds; Toby Hudson rifling a loose ball past Hughes from the right hand side of the area.

Galaxy were visibly stunned by this double blow and very much on the back foot as the Littleborough side poured forward sensing the kill; Hughes called into action again with a brave block at the feet of Hudson and yet again to block Chris Holbrook, but this time the rebound ran kindly for the attacker and it was 3-0 after just twenty minutes.

Galaxy manager Sabar Ansari’s response was immediate, replacing James Brookes with David Yinkore, and with Ezequel Mirand finally getting the ball to feet, enabling him to run at his opponents.

Galaxy were beginning to create a toehold into the game and the temperature was certainly rising as Fothergill's Culshaw and Howarth and Galaxy’s Yinkore were all fortunate to escape cautions in quick succession.

Taylor was not enjoying the best of nights in goal and his mix up with Culshaw almost gifted Rigby a way back into the game for Galaxy, only for Hughes and Matty Peers to mirror that incident at the opposite end of the pitch but Fothergill were unable to take advantage as the evening’s first caution soon followed when Howarth brought down Mirand in full flight.

As the half entered additional time Galaxy had one final chance from a free kick deep in their opponent’s half but possession was lost and Tom Gibson picked up the loose ball inside his own half, powered forward as Galaxy retreated, and fired past Hughes to make it 4-0 and all but seal victory for his side at the end of a half in which Galaxy had enjoyed plenty of territorial advantage, but had been tactically out thought, by a compact Fothergill side who after the opening ten minutes had kept the ball on the floor and played it short and to feet.

Goal scoring opportunities were few and far between in the opening period of the second half though referee Paul Lister was kept busy as Fothergill's Andy Law went into the book for a late challenge on Mohammed Omair. Galaxy’s Adam Flitcroft followed him in for dissent moments later accompanied by team mate Yinkore after a wild swing at Jorgensen.

As both sides refocused on the game Culshaw headed wide under challenge from Hughes before Fothergills wasted a three versus two advantage on the break and Gibson fired a twenty five yarder narrowly over with Hughes rooted.

The disappointingly ineffective Flitcroft was replaced after receiving what had to be his last warning from the referee, and with the limping Rigby also having to be substituted, Galaxy’s lingering hopes of a comeback were seemingly at an end.

They continued to battle and Omair was played in by Peter Fenton but shot wide when well placed.

When Galaxy finally got on the scoresheet in the seventy seventh minute it was from the penalty spot through Nabeel Sarwar after substitute Ryan Davies needlessly handled the ball on the edge of his own box.

Taylor then made two good saves in quick succession from Fenton and Akmal, only for Fothergill to have the last word in the eighty ninth minute as Law broke down the right hand side and crossed for Collins to plant his header emphatically beyond Hughes to crown what in truth was a comfortable victory for Paul Bamford’s side.

The trophy was presented to Fothergill by League President John Culshaw, and Fothergill's David Collins was named Man-of-the-Match by the League Committee.