Celtic crush Queen Anne to go six points clear

Broadway Celtic increased their grip on the First Division of the Rochdale amp; District Sunday Football League with a crushing victory over Queen Anne scoring seven without reply to go six points clear at the top.

 

Brunswick continued their recent good form to retain their slim hopes of promotion by winning comfortably at home to Marston Tavern.

 

Broadway’s seven goal spree wasn't the only demolition job of the day, Italia went one better putting eight past bottom of the division, and still pointless, Woodhouse United.

 

In the Second Division Copperpot Reserves all but put the title beyond question with only just over half the fixture list complete as they made light work of their closest challengers, FC Dale, to go eight points clear.

 

Wardleworth took advantage of FC Dale’s defeat to join them on 25 points courtesy of a win away at Bay Horse.

 

In a very open first half, Wardleworth took the lead before Bay levelled just prior to half-time. However, the second half was dominated by Wardleworth who took the lead just two minutes after the restart before putting the game beyond doubt with a third.

 

On the score sheet for Wardleworth were M Khan, I Khan and T Hussain. Bates scored the Bay Horse goal.

 

The clash between Turks Head and The Star went to form with Turks Head just shading a close encounter to move three points clear of their mid table rivals.

 

Old Bricklayers and Royal Exchange continue to prop up the Second Division following defeats by Whitworth Valley and DC United respectively.

 

Top of the Third Division Rochdale Nomads gained sweet revenge for last week’s defeat at Rochdale Online with a first half display that ensured there was no way back for an Online team suffering from a poor management decision to field a less than full strength side and to play a fruitless 4-5-1 formation.

 

Nomads had complete control in all areas of the pitch in the first half and with Online keeper Makin in poor form and lacking confidence Nomads three goal half-time lead was nothing less than they deserved.

 

Rochdale Online manager Blackburn made changes early in the second half and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and suddenly Online looked the better team, but despite Journeaux and Sanderson coming close the Nomads defence held firm to gain three vital points in the race for the title.

 

Second placed Catholic Club Reserves knew they were in for a tough game against a notoriously parsimonious Woolworth’s defence and sure enough they failed to break down the division's best organised defence.

 

Club enjoyed a significant share of possession and moved the ball about well in midfield. However, when they got the ball to their front men they found the visitors' back four in no mood to surrender. As it was, Woolworths 'keeper Ryan Higginbotham did not have a shot of note to save throughout the entire 90 minutes thanks largely to the efforts of central pairing Kenny Hindle and Simon Thompson.

 

Woolworths took the lead following a free-kick taken by skipper Craig Milne whose shot was blocked but the ball ran loose for Stuart Montgomery to run onto and place under the Club keeper into the bottom corner of the net.

 

Catholic Club continued battling against a brick wall and as the game wore on moved more and more men forward in a vain attempt to make the breakthrough. This left them susceptible to a breakaway and with the game ticking into injury time Woolworths took full advantage. Striker Richard Powell charged down a free-kick and raced through an exposed defence to find himself with only the 'keeper to beat. Powell attempted to cap a fine man-of-the-match performance but his chip over the diving goalkeeper struck the cross-bar. The rebound fell to substitute debutante Rob Jones who placed a narrow angled header into the far corner of the net to end Catholic Club's unbeaten league record and consign them to a defeat that dents their hopes of overhauling Rochdale Nomads.

 

Norden took full advantage of the Catholic Club slip up to climb within one point of Club after a comprehensive seven goal win against Waggon.

 

Boundary Park also scored seven to beat Red Lion who could only manage one in reply.

 

Dale Dynamos won for the first time in three outings putting six past bottom of the division Blue Ball despite playing with just ten men and no recognised goalkeeper, Danny Adams returning from a broken leg played in goal.

 

Blue Ball took the lead after some bad Dynamos marking at the back, before Danny Kershaw equalised for Dynamos.

 

Dynamos Striker Matthew Kershaw replaced Adams in goal due to a leg injury.

 

Blue Ball took the lead again, this time from the penalty spot after Ben Adams pushed a Blue Ball player in the back!

 

Dynamos equalised before the half time break; Dave Thomas slotting the ball under Horrocks the Blue Ball keeper.

 

Dynamos took complete control of the game in the second half, Kershaw and Thomas adding a brace each to complete well deserved hat-tricks.