Len Mahoney Cup final

Rodwell 1

RENDEZVOUS 0

A LATE goal from Roger Boyd was enough to see Rodwell get their hands on the Len Mahoney Cup, at the expense of newly crowned Weymouth Sunday League Premiership champions Rendezvous.

The disappointment marks a somewhat low-key end to a fine season for the latter, whose hopes of landing a historic treble faded following defeats in this and the Dorset Sunday Intermediate Cup finale.

The Rodwell meanwhile, gained revenge after losing their league title to the nightclubbers.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the first with Phil Groves going closest for the Vous with a glancing header from a Ricky Lane free-kick and Wayne Gifford tipping away a Sean Zima effort at the other end.

The champions had more of the play in the first half, with the wind at their backs, but failed to fashion much in the way of clear-cut opportunities.

At the turnaround the roles were reversed as Zima and his strike partner Ollie Stanton had more joy in an improved second half, with space beginning to open up on the Grove Corner pitch.

As with most of the season, Chris Skinner was the pick of the Vous forwards on the day and finally got around the back of the Rodwell defence with 20 minutes left on the clock.

And after nudging the ball past Ant Mauger in goal, Skinner was sent sprawling to the ground by a combination of his momentum, and Mauger’s and defender Adam Laing’s attentions. The referee blew for a penalty and there followed the predictable protests, as well as a sub-drama among the Vous players as to who was going to take it.

Lane got the nod, only for the man in black to reverse his decision after a somewhat belated offside call.

Rodwell roared back and after a couple of fantastic one-on-one stops from Gifford, the game was won on 80 minutes.

Zima centred from the left wing and Boyd hooked a brilliant header past the despairing lunge of Gifford, breaking the hearts of an already dispirited Vous.

League secretary Andy Lowe said: “Everyone would like to say a very big thank you to Portland United FC for allowing us to stage the games there, particularly Robin Satherley, Darren Whyton and Matt and the bar staff. You were all absolutely fantastic.”

* The annual Weymouth Sunday League six-a-side competition takes place at the Marsh on Sunday.

Each team is allowed to name a squad of 10 with roll-on, roll-off substitutes permitted.

The top two sides from each group go through to the quarter-finals.

Group A: New Inn, Medics Away, Old Castle, Alex A, Rodwell, Snookes.

Group B: Duke of Albany A, Tuatara Bar B, Weyline, SAS, Rendezvous, Bar 314.

Group C: Rock, John Gregory, Duke of Albany B, Tuatara Bar A, Broadmayne, Market House.

Group D: Old Ship, Britannia, Alex B, Quayside, Dolphin, Golden Lion.