Rochdale Online Football League Round Up

It’s a case of “as you were” after last weekend’s games in the Rochdale Online BKC Trophies Premier Division as leaders Whitworth Valley thrashed Harlequin 5-0 at Rawstron Street and second placed Wardle edged out Rochdale Asia at Firgrove courtesy of goals from Craig Wood and Martin Shaw.

With Weavers inactive, and in County Cup action this weekend whilst Whitworth Valley have a Saturday afternoon off, Wardle can reach the top of the table with victory in the reverse fixture against Rochdale Asia at Rutherford Park, weather permitting of course!

Fothergill & Whittles secured an impressive away victory over Asia with goals from Holbrook (2) and Platt ; John, not Ken, before the photocopying starts! and Roca edged out the long suffering Dusty Miller by the odd goal in nine thanks to strikes from Imran (2), Mahmood, Hutton and Taylor.

With divisional cup action planned for the month of December practically the entire fixture list from last weekend has been reversed and this provides a number of interesting looking clashes across all three divisions.

However, it’s doubtful Rochdale Sacred Heart will be looking forward to meeting Syke again after their 10-1 drubbing a week ago! The opening exchanges were relatively even as Syke were penalised for a number of petty fouls and temporarily allowed this to disrupt their concentration. On fifteen minutes a thunderous strike from the edge of the box flew into the top corner from Scott Bentley and this was the signal for a powerful display of attacking football allied to some magnificent finishing from Scott Highton (5) and Byron Milne (4) which completely tore the spirited home side apart.

Milne’s finishes were hit with such power that the Heart’s keeper hardly moved whilst Highton was clinical in his execution to capitalise on some precision approach play marshalled by the equally impressive Traynor.

With Syke four up at the break the interest level for the neutral was purely whether the leaders could achieve double figures and they did so in the ninetieth minute, shortly after Hearts had netted a consolation, and controversial, goal from the penalty spot. A game played in a good spirit then became a touch negative with both Bentley for Syke and Hearts’ Mooney fortunate to see only yellow instead of red for petulant over reactions in the dying moments.

Syke’s management team were delighted with what they viewed as their team’s best display of the season whilst Hearts deserve credit for their team spirit and determination to compete from first whistle to last. Being a third team brings it’s own problems of constant team changes and disruptions, often at late notice, and Hearts would appear to have an ethos that will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

The Waggon revival appears to have become derailed somewhat in the past fortnight and goals from Rushton (10) and McKenzie (25) gave visitors Sudden Carling a handy advantage in this mid table clash in the Asia Restaurant Division 1.

With Sudden looking in control Rushton then contrived to get himself sent off and handed Waggon a numerical advantage for the remaining fifty five minutes of the game! Bamford (50) reduced the arrears and his team then enjoyed the bulk of the possession without really threatening the Sudden goal until Jenkins (75) levelled matters.

When you have just scored, as within sixty seconds Sudden’s Sanderson was allowed to advance unchallenged and fire his side back in to the lead and Neil (90) finally ensured all three points belonged to the visitors.

Castleton and Hargreaves maintained the pressure on Syke with comfortable home wins over Woodbank and Weavers 2nds respectively, whilst in this division’s other game Jacks House secured a valuable three points with a narrow away victory over Wardle 2nds with goals from Barnes (2) and Goldie.

This column last weekend suggested AFC Royton had the perfect opportunity to bury thoughts of their humilation at Castleton with victory over unbeaten leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds at New Barn and that’s exactly what they did with a 3-2 victory that really opens up the title race in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2.

The Royton lads would have been further cheered by the news from the lake side as two goals from Danny Oldham were not enough to save his side from a second defeat of the season as Pearce (2), Kean, Oliver and McLoughlin replied for Wardle 3rds to earn them an outstanding result ; and again one that was predicted on this page seven days ago!

At the other end of the table Sudden Carling 2nds remain the only team in the league without a point to their name, Warburton’s goal being usurped by Whitham (2) and Barker for Todmorden Vets at Matthew Moss.

Welcome points for Sun Hotel courtesy of a 5-1 home victory over Fothergill & Whittles 2nds whilst the Donkeys looked a lot less dodgy at Firgrove as they played out a competitive three all draw with Rochdale Asia 2nds.

So the reverse fixture focus falls very much on the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 as AFC Royton travel to Rawstron Street to meet Whitworth Valley 2nds and Wardle 3rds head for Oulder Hill to lock horns once more with Castleton 2nds.

The right combination of results could see the leading three teams locked on 24 points by the end of the afternoon.