Davis’ champs set sights on a double
CHAMPIONS Rossendale FC lifted the league trophy at the weekend – though boss Ray David admitted the celebrations had been tempered by the first loss of the season.
The Stags had gone through the campaign unbeaten and had already secured the league crown ahead of Saturday’s clash at home against Walney island.
However, after suffering a 2-1 loss Davis paid tribute to his squad.
“Obviously I’m really happy watching the lads celebrating the league title here, I must admit I was a little dejected earlier and to be fair so were the lads,” he said.
“We went in the changing rooms after the final whistle and we were all really disappointed in losing our only league game of the season in our last game. That shows, though, the spirit of this group, the fact they’ve won the league and they were on the floor because they lost one game all season, I mean you can’t buy that kind of spirit can you?
“We tried really hard and never stopped working to try and get the vic- tory but credit to Walney Island, they worked tirelessly and ground out the result, but at the end of the day we are the ones lifting the league trophy and deservedly so with over 100 goals scored. The celebrations will go into the night now, then we’ll be right back training again next week with a view to winning the cup final and hopefully the double.
“We know we have a tough game against Kendal Town who recently took points off us when we drew with them at home in the league, so we need to be at our best and ready for a battle to bring more silverware back to the Valley and make the people of Rossendale proud of what their football club has achieved this season.
“Hopefully there will be a good amount of people following us over to support us in the final which takes place on bank holiday Monday May 2nd at Euston Villa FC (PR7 6HH) for a 3pm kick off.”
A strong wind throughout Saturday’s match spoiled any chance of good flowing football.
In front of another large crowd, Walney, with the wind at their backs, made the better start to the match with Rossendale struggling to clear their lines.
The visitors opened the scoring on 12 minutes when a rare defensive error let in a Walney forward in to score. Rossendale were creating chances of their own, the
best of which were gathered in by the Walney keeper, but one chance the keeper didn’t get fell to Tom Hulme who unfortunately dragged his shot just wide of the left hand upright.
Rossendale did have the ball in the net when a Joe Haworth corner ended back with him he cut inside and smashed the ball goalwards. The ball seemed to be heading into the net but Tom Hulme headed it in and was then flagged off side by the Walney linesman.
As half time approached Walney pressed forward in search of a second goal causing problems in the Rossendale defence but the half time whistle came to the home side’s rescue.
In the second half, with the wind at their backs, it was Rossendale doing all the pressing throughout and Walney – with their backs to the wall – were defending manfully to keep the opposition out.
However, they could do nothing about a wicked curling corner from Joe Haworth on 53 minutes that came back off the crossbar, and five minutes later it was Haworth again with a 35-yard free kick brilliantly tipped over by the Walney keeper.
On 63 minutes a fierce shot at goal was diverted towards the corner of the net by a defender only for the keeper to somehow get down and tip it round the post. Four minutes later a chance for Rossendale
when a foul in the area brought a penalty, but the Walney keeper dived to his right to keep Tom Hulme’s spot kick out, tipping the ball onto the post and away.
Rossendale kept pressing in search of the equaliser – on 73 minutes a powerful Scott Wylie header was acrobatically tipped over by the keeper, from the resulting corner the keeper was beaten but a defender on the line hacked the ball clear.
With all the Rossendale pressure something had to give and on 88 minutes it did – but not what the crowd were expecting as Walney took a quick free kick, the ball was crossed low into the six-yard box and scrambled home to double Walney’s lead.
Rossendale didn’t stop and in the 90th minute a goalmouth scramble saw Will Foster force the ball home to reduce the deficit.
The champions threw everything forward in search for an equaliser but the referee’s whistle brought the match and the unbeaten run to an end.
The team can be proud of their efforts in the league, clinching the title in style by winning 23 matches, drawing two and losing one, scoring 106 goals and conceding just 15. Fair play to Walney who stayed on the pitch and applauded every Rossendale player receiving their medals and captain Adam McInnes lifting the second division winners’ cup.
It’s now onto the Challenge Cup Final in search of a league and cup double when Rossendale play Kendal United at Euxton Villa on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd of May the match kicks off at 3pm.