Weavers make it eight wins on the spin

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League round-up

ROAFL Champions Weavers maintained their electric start to the season, their eighth consecutive victory consigning BKC Trophies Premier Division leaders Whitworth Valley to their first setback since joining the league.

Weavers started strongly but excellent defensive work from Valley, and a superb save from their keeper to keep out Hands’ powerful shot, meant spectators had to wait half an hour for the game’s opening goal. Hands was the scorer heading home Peters’ free kick and within minutes it was 2-0 and Hands again was the scorer, this time playing a sharp one two with Bradley before finding the bottom right hand corner of the net with a low drive.

At this stage Valley needed to go into the break without sustaining further damage, but it wasn’t to be as on the stroke of half time Sykes eluded numerous challenges to add a decisive third goal.

Although the second period was a more even contest Weavers were never in any real danger of conceding their advantage and a goal on the hour for the visitors was mere consolation.

Hands, Simm and Bradley were best on the day for Weavers who have a day off on Saturday before their Sharrocks Amateur Cup trip to Clitheroe whilst Valley can regroup with victory at Rawstron Street over visitors Harlequin.

It’s been a somewhat lively start to the season for Asia for all sorts of reasons, both good and bad, and last Saturday was one of the good days with a resounding 6-0 victory over basement side Dusty Miller.

After Miller missed a great opportunity to take the lead following a fumble by the home keeper Eastmond struck twice in ninety seconds to compound that error and the same player added two more in the thirty first and thirty fourth minutes to make it Eastmond (and Asia) 4 Dusty Miller 0 at the interval.

With the strong-ish wind behind them Miller pushed much further forward in the second half without really creating any clear cut chances and it was Asia who went five goals clear in the seventy second minute – no prizes for guessing the scorer! Ahmed (80) completed the scoring and the disappointed visitors ended the game as they had started it – a reflex save from Amir once more preventing a seemingly certain Miller goal.

Roca climbed off the bottom of the table after goals from Sumner, Choudry and Hutton gave them all three points at Harlequin, who replied unavailingly through Butler and Simpson, whilst in the division’s other game Rochdale Asia edged out hosts Fothergills & Whittles by the odd goal in nine at Whittles Park.

With the Syke management less than satisfied with certain elements of last week’s performance against Castleton changes were made for their home fixture against Wardle 2nds, the team that had beaten them in last season’s cup semi final. With Syke’s midfield of Milne, Traynor and Kershaw dictating proceedings it was Kershaw who opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute with his eleventh goal of the season and six minutes later it was 2-0 with a neat finish from Scott Highton who played in this game just hours after becoming a dad! Bentley (30) completed the scoring on his comeback from injury and a largely uneventful second half resulted in three valuable league points for the leaders in the Asia Restaurant Division 1 with a double header against Rochdale Sacred Heart ahead of them. Referee Ryan Bromfield nominated Wayne Traynor man of the match for a faultless performance.

A Ryan Altimas hat trick kept Castleton hard on the heels of Syke but only just at Walsden as Jacks House pushed them all the way, whilst Hargreaves continued their good run with a 6-3 home victory over struggling Woodbank.

A good point after last week’s disappointment for Waggon who had goals from Bradshaw and Jenkins to thank for their 2-2 draw with fourth placed Weavers 2nds at Firgrove.

In the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 it seems a case of some dodgy looking donkeys on Rawstron Street as leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds powered to a seven goal victory over their colourfully named visitors and disappointingly for the neutrals it was a case of same as at Oulder Hill where second met third.

On paper this should have been a much tighter affair but Castleton put out a strong reserve outfit and were far too strong for visitors AFC Royton with goals at regular intervals from Milne (3) Oldham (2) Hargreaves and Trippier. 

Saturday’s visit of leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds gives Royton the perfect opportunity to put matters right…or not as the case might be!

So near and yet so far for Sudden Carling 2nds who nearly gleaned their first point of the season before eventually losing out by the odd goal in seven at Rochdale Asia 2nds whilst Wardle 3rds David McLoughlin emulated Asia’s Nathan Eastmond with a nap hand of his own as Wardle ensured Fothergills & Whittles 2nds didn’t enjoy their afternoon by the lake as they sank to a 9-1 defeat, Dewhurst (3) and Greenwood the other scorers. Castleton 2nds will be hoping for a much happier day out this weekend but this one has the potential for an upset.