Rochdale Online Football League Round Up

With four games falling foul of the weather, and Weavers in County Cup action in Clitheroe, it was a somewhat reduced Rochdale Online Alliance League programme last weekend.

Unfortunately the league’s sole remaining representatives in the County Competition fell at the fourth time of asking but only in that most frustrating of ways – the dreaded penalty shoot out! Having ended two hours of competitive football level at one apiece it took a marathon penalty contest to finally send Hurst Green through 9-8! Commiserations and congratulations to Weavers for representing the league so admirably this season.

In the BKC Trophies Premier Division Wardle joined leaders Whitworth Valley on eighteen points courtesy of a hard fought 2-1 win in difficult conditions at Firgrove over Asia FC. Wardle enjoyed the greater possession and clearer opportunities in the first period and took a deserved lead through Andrew Williams after Nazir had tipped a gaol bound effort onto the bar only for the rebound to fall kindly for Williams. With the pitch cutting up in the incessant rain both teams changed tactics in the second half and Asia’s use of the better conditions out wide led to an equaliser mid way through the half from Kadar. With Asia now in the ascendancy a winner seemed likely but when it came in the 80th minute it was for Wardle as a counter attack led to a corner from which Matthew Williams netted the decisive goal.
On the adjoining pitch equally difficult conditions did not mar an excellent game of football between Rochdale Asia and Roca Juniors; a competitive encounter played in an excellent spirit throughout and a tremendous advert for the ROAFL. The final margin of victory for Roca did not accurately represent the balance of the game overall but Rochdale Asia paid the price for a five minute period late in the first half when they conceded three goals to Taylor, Sumner and finally a stunning free kick from twenty five yards out from Ahmed. Taylor rounded off the scoring with a superb individual goal in the second period though there was still time for Rochdale Asia to miss a penalty. Roca’s Sumner produced the game’s outstanding performance, dictating the game in midfield, closely followed by the inventive Taylor up front.

Can anyone stop Syke in the Asia Restaurant Division 1 is the question after their total demolition of Waggon Athletic means they have now scored sixty three goals in just nine league games! Five goals for Scott Bentley, three from Scott Highton and even a goal from keeper Richard Worswick were all too much for a Waggon side who might just be regretting opening the scoring in the seventh minute!
Castleton made much harder work of their trip to Rutherford Park before eventually overcoming bottom club Wardle 2nds by the odd goal in five thanks to McEvoy (2) and O’Brien.
Woodbank were looking for their second victory of the season but came up well short against an organised Weavers 2nds who took the lead in the eleventh minute through Atkinson. With Burns doubling that lead within a minute it looked like a long afternoon ahead for the visitors but they composed themselves and matched Weavers in all departments for the next half hour before reducing their arrears in the 41st minute with a goal from Whitehead. Unfortunately, they then relaxed mentally and within a minute Broome had struck to make it 3-1 at half time. Reduced to ten men through injury, and with no substitutes, for most of the second half Woodbank were effectively out of the game when Atkinson made it 4-1 on fifty three minutes and further goals from Worthington, Worrell, Brogan and Atkinson to complete his hat trick gave Weavers a comfortable 8-2 home win, Frost netting a late consolation for Woodbank.
In this division’s final game hat tricks for Johnson and Elsworth earned three valuable league points for Rochdale Sacred Heart, at the expense of Jacks House. to lift them clear of the drop zone.

An intriguing scenario is developing in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 as leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds slipped to a second successive league defeat at the hands of Wardle 3rds; a David McLoughlin hat trick instrumental in Wardle’s 4-2 success. Following on as it does from their victory over Castleton 2nds a fortnight ago this win propels Wardle towards the leading pack and with Whitworth hosting Castleton this weekend it could be extremely tight at the top of the table by the time the league action takes a break for the divisional cups in December.
AFC Royton are the fourth team in this equation and boosted by slightly fortuitous goals from Atkinson and Lawton they were thankful to keeper Jason Parker for their 2-1 half time lead over Rochdale Asia 2nds at New Barn – Dumitru with the Rochdale Asia goal. A mistake by the Rochdale Asia keeper allowed King to restore Royton’s two goal advantage and Atkinson’s second of the afternoon seemed to have secured the victory. Araf netted to give Rochdale Asia hope but Lawton added his second to end the scoring and take Royton level on points with Whitworth at the top of the table.
At the bottom it’s nothing from nine now for Sudden Carling 2nds, a 2-5 home reverse to Sun Hotel hardly brightening their mood!

Third placed Hargreaves try to stop the Syke bandwagon this weekend at Firgrove in the Asia Restaurant Division 1 whilst the afore mentioned clash at Rawstron Street between the top two in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 looks like the match of the day – on paper at least!