Success plough deep in Sunday League top of the table clash

Success to the Plough took the points in the top of the Premiership clash, a win that sees them pull seven points clear of Copperpot in the chase for the title.

Riley opened the scoring for Success with a good header from a free kick but the lead was short lived as Jepson leveled for Copperpot following a goalmouth scramble.

Helm put Success back in front by rounding two Copperpot players and the goalkeeper and walking the ball into the empty net.

Again Copperpot came back to level, this time through Hodgson, though in controversial circumstances, the referee ruling his lob had crossed the line, the Success defenders on the line adamant it hadn’t.

The fiercely but fairly contested game was still level with just 15 minutes to play when Matt Jackson scored two in quick succession, both from set pieces, to give Success the win that may yet give them their first ever Premier Division title.

In the First Division second placed Catholic Club closed the gap on Broadway Celtic with a rout, scoring twelve, of a Highfield side that have now had twenty goals put past them in two games.

With Copperpot Reserves playing in the Rochdale Online League Cup, FC Dale were hoping to close the gap at the top, but were held at Harehill by FC Bernard.

Bay Horse also failed to capitalise going down at home to a DC United side that have now won their last three outings.

Top of the Third Division, Rochdale Nomads, expected three easy points against a Rochdale Online side well beaten by then bottom of the division Blueball last week. Nomads took an early lead through Antony Royle with a soft goal that Online keeper Makin should have kept out; the Online supporters feared a heavy defeat as Nomads took control of the game. However, against the run of play Online hit back, John Sanderson scoring after a scramble from a corner.

Online’s confidence boosted they began to play football, tackling well and stringing some good moves together between the midfield and the attack - wing back Journeaux proving a constant threat on the overlap. However, Online looked fragile at the back and despite the lion’s share of possession in the rest of the half found themselves behind again when Irvine snapped up an easy chance as Online keeper Makin spilled a free-kick.

In contrast to last week’s dismal performance, Online came out in the second half and took the game to Nomads. There was little in it in terms of possession but Online had a couple of chances to level before Paul Sanderson found himself hauled back in the penalty area; referee Clegg pointed to the penalty spot but inexplicably allowed the miscreant to stay on the field despite being the last defender.

Ian Sanderson’s penalty was poor and aimed straight at the Nomads keeper who had little difficulty saving.

Brushing off his disappointment Sanderson turned match winner. First to level the game he pounced after another goalmouth scramble and then, following a good interchange between Journeaux and North, found space on the edge of the Nomads box before giving the keeper no chance with a well placed drive into the far corner to give Rochdale Online three well deserved points.

Second placed Catholic Club Reserves failed to fully capitalise on Nomads loss, only able to take one point in a goalless game against a resolute and parsimonious Woolworth’s team who have only conceded eleven goals in their eight outings this season.

Boundary Park put six past Blue Ball to climb above Rochdale Online on goal difference.

At the foot of the table, Old Bull’s Head, bottom placed at the start of play, moved up four places and above the team they beat, Dale Dynamos.

Pick of the Rochdale Online League Cup games was the clash between top of the Second Division Copperpot Reserves and First Division Brunswick. As expected with two in form teams, the game was close with neither side able to dominate, the scores remaining level at 4-4 after extra time. Brunswick won the penalty shoot out 5-4 to progress to the next round against Rochdale Online.

One team did take the scalp of higher division opposition as Second Division Turks Head knocked out First Division Marston Tavern.