Rothbury 1 Wallington 2
Mark Bruce Memorial Trophy
It didn’t get the fairytale finish it surely deserved as a first half double saw Wallington lift the inaugural Mark Bruce Memorial Trophy.
But there couldn’t have been anyone in the crowd of a couple of hundred (socially distanced, of course) that weren’t willing Mark’s son, Jordan, to grab a late equaliser as he pulled on the red number 9 shirt for the final few minutes.
That would he been perfect – but a well-organised and effective Green unit ensured that the ball never got near the goalmouth and that one chance just never materialised.
There is plenty of history at two of the oldest clubs in the country, never mind Northumberland, who were formed in 1876 and 1877 respectively, and Mark Bruce wrote his name into the folk lore and legend at both during the ‘80s, 90s and 00s.
Being out in the rolling countryside doesn’t attract a lot of glamour or attention so the Armstrong Park and Oakford sides have gone quietly about their business in local football over the decades. But Bruce, like his grandfather Pinder Fairgrieve before him, was just one of those players whose skills and ability brought recognition of the rural game to a much wider attention within the North-East football family.
Wallington brought a large squad across from Scot’s Gap with them for the game and will be looking to further enhance their reputation in the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division this term, while Danny Olson’s young guns – with a few seasoned and experienced lads in alongside them – will similarly seek to cement their growing recognition in Division One.
“The pre-season has shown us exactly what we needed - different formations, players playing out of position - it all showed us that we are finally ready for the season opener,” said Olson.
“The player’s attitudes as a whole can not be questioned. They are possibly the most committed and motivated group I have had for a long time. We’ve got lots of young fresh local lads and the test of a good coach is if he can turn his young players into competent senior players. These young lads will be OK,” he continued.
The Reds suffered an early blow when highly promising keeper Jack Halton suffered a reoccurrence of a back injury picked up while on duty at a Football League club just a few nights earlier and had to be walked gingerly to the sidelines after a lengthy spell of treatment. Rothbury would go on to give all three keepers a spell between the sticks throughout the game.
But it was the Wallington stopper that was first called into action as he had his palms stung by a Lee Richardson 20-yarder that he dived to parry away. Richardson was almost left red-faced at the other end soon after, however, as the Coquetdalers knocked the ball around in their own box in an attempt to play their way out and his loose pass was fired over with the goal gaping.
The striker went close again at the other end but delayed his shot after a confusing call, spinning and drilling low into the keeper’s arms with the Wallington back-line looking for an offside flag.
The Greens began to impose themselves on the game as they moved the ball about and looked to penetrate down the wings. A powerful header clipped the top of the bar before Michael Angus hit the opener in the 39th minute, controlling a ball from the left with his right instep and dispatching a smart volley with his trusty left.
Hit-man Jordan Nellis is back at Oakford after time away at Bedlington Terriers and Dunston and is stronger and more powerfully built than the lad he was when he left. He almost rolled in a second only to be denied by the sliding Kyle Smith’s goal-line heroics.
He didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet though, and his first-time hit from a pull back in the box proved too powerful for the wrong-footed Rothbury stopper as it span into the corner off his outstretched glove just before the break.
Wallington changed strips and almost their entire side for the second period while Red’s midfielders James Jackson and Tony Brown continued to probe with passes looking to get the pacy Chris Coe and Greg Woodburn in behind.
Jackson drove through the heart of the Greens and kept going, being unlucky as his low drive was saved and cleared, while he later tucked a neat ball inside the full back but Coe’s dangerous cross was deflected safely behind.
Rothbury had a couple of strong penalty appeals waved away before Richardson was upended in the box and picked himself up to emphatically dispatch the spot-kick into the roof of the net in the 77th minute.
The day belonged to the visitors, however, and they claimed the silverware at the end in what was a fitting tribute to a man whose star had shone so brightly at both clubs.
Rothbury travel to Cramlington United for their season opener tomorrow night (Wednesday 2nd September, kick-off 7pm) and host Felling Magpies at Armstrong Park on Saturday (5th September, kick-off 2.30pm).
“I can’t wait for the season to open up now - a new season always brings initial excitement but this one has a special feel,” said Rothbury boss Olson.
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