President's Cup Final

Fothergill & Whittles team

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Little more than twelve months ago the late and sadly missed Cyril Barlow et al were promising a somewhat undignified display on the Town Hall Steps if their beloved Fothergill & Whittles finally won a piece of silverware in the ROAFL.

The good people of Rochdale were spared as the 3rd team failed to secure promotion, but last Saturday Cyril would have had a twinkle in his eye and a sense of pride in his heart as the 1st team fulfilled his dream by winning The President’s Cup in a tense final against Division 2 champions Bridge FC.

Fothergill have graced the Premier Division with their stylish brand of football this season and they began the final with real intent after their miraculous semi final comeback against Whitworth Valley.

With Fothergill dominating possession Bridge were finding it difficult to get a foothold in the game and John Platt was a constant source of danger to them down the left hand side in the opening forty five minutes in particular; and it was no surprise when his ball in to the far post was converted by the incoming Daniel Morton after just nine minutes.

Before Bridge could regroup they were two down as Morton turned provider and Andrew Law could not miss from six yards out.

Any threat Bridge carried going forward in the opening quarter was being negated by the offside flag and it seemed the pre match realisation that Damien Gibbons was ineligible to play in the final had significantly undermined them.

Fothergill continued to pour forward at will and a third goal at this stage would surely have ended the final as a contest, and they came closest when Richard Lord headed over from close range in the twenty sixth minute.

Instead it was game back on within three minutes as Fothergill got into a tangle defending a throw in on the right and O’Dell went through to drill a low shot past Whitelaw and just inside the far post.

With Bridge now seeing more of the ball the game was evening itself out, though Fothergill still carried the greater sense of purpose and threat with their captain Sean Doyle proving the game’s outstanding defender and inspiration.

In the air or on the ground he was faultless and the instigator of countless attacks but Bridge were defending resolutely and came close to equalising on the stroke of half time as a corner from the left hand side dropped directly onto the bar with Whitelaw back pedalling.

Certain to have been reminded at half time of just how they had knocked Weavers and Wardle out of the competition in previous rounds Bridge came out looking far more confident and purposeful but should have been 3-1 down on forty eight minutes when their keeper Noble was dispossessed outside his area by Morton only for him to then shoot wide.

Reprieved and relieved to still be in the contest Bridge slowly began to change the balance of the game as they started to keep hold of the ball and pass it around much as Fothergill had done in the opening period.

Gavin Lynskey played in Jordan Charnock but he shot wide and Sam Riley headed over when well placed from another effective long throw from Aiden Corcoran.

With James Matthews and Lee Porter adding even fresher young legs to the Bridge cause Fothergill were looking vulnerable for the first time in the game and they were not helped when they lost the influential Nick Holbrook to injury.

Ryan Bocock shot wide for them as the game entered its final quarter and then Dominic Moore squandered a similar opening at the other end.

With less than ten minutes remaining Lynskey then decided to leave his stamp on the game and was fortunate to escape at least a caution for his challenge on Chris Holbrook and, as Fothergill momentarily lost their composure, O’Dell squandered a decent opening from just inside the area.

Play then switched to the other end and as Bridge failed to clear their lines the ball broke to Platt some twenty yards from goal and his low shot sneaked past Noble to give the Premier Division side a crucial 3-1 lead with five minutes of normal time to play.

Wright then shot straight at Noble before O’Dell bundled the ball home from close range in the second minute of time added on to give Bridge a glimmer of hope, only for Lynskey to sour the finale and waste any time that was left for his side to try to level with an even worse challenge than his previous one leaving referee Joe Lowther with no option but to dismiss him.

Bridge are a gifted young side who on the day did not quite perform to their potential but, Lynskey excepted, they played their part in a very watchable final.

For Fothergill it was a deserved triumph ; they are a club who conduct themselves in the right way ; led admirably by skipper Sean Doyle on the field and manager Martin Nuttall off it and they were worthy recipients of the trophy presented by the President himself, John Culshaw.

Nice one, Cyril!