Rochdale Online Alliance Football League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

As the weather relented the shocks abounded in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League as leading clubs suffered defeats in all three divisions.

Something had to give as the top two clashed in the BKC Trophies Premier Division at Rawstron Street and it was Whitworth Valley’s unbeaten home record as leaders Wardle extended their lead at the top to four points with a clear cut 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Smith (2) and Watson. Meanwhile at Firgrove Roca Juniors inflicted champions Weavers first league defeat of the season with a determined team performance that saw goals from Sumner (2) and Masood earn them a 3-1 victory. Interestingly the vagaries of the fixture list sees the same four clubs thrown together again this weekend with Weavers heading to Whitworth and Wardle keen to avoid another Roca inspired upset at Firgrove.

In the division’s other games Asia were far too strong for Harlequin who have had to move to New Barn for the remainder of the season due to ongoing issues with changing facilities at Crossley. Leading 3-0 at the break Asia were pegged back by goals from Bates and Silke and with the game in the balance it was Asia who claimed the key goal on the break with seventeen minutes to go and they eventually ran out clear winners with the goals shared between Kadar (2) Younis (2) Maqsood (2) Eastmond and Mahmood.
Meanwhile more misery for bottom club Dusty Miller who are not enjoying life in the top division as hat tricks from that well known firm of goalscorers Holbrook and Holbrook condemned them to a 1-9 reverse at Whittles Park. Law, Platt and Woods completed the scoring for Fothergill and Whittles.

No love lost as the top two clashed at Firgrove in the Asia Restaurant Division 1 and aspersions abounded both during and after the game as Castleton opened up the title race by inflicting Syke’s first defeat of the season with a late penalty earning them a narrow victory in a bad tempered game. Hargreaves remain ever hopeful of a dip in form from the top two and Carey (2) and Shine netted the goals to see off visitors Waggon Athletic at Goshen.

Weavers 2nds overcame Rochdale Sacred Heart to stay fourth and another miserable afternoon for Woodbank as they conceded nine in Todmorden with a Goldie hat trick leading the way for Jacks House as bottom club Wardle 2nds closed the gap to two points with a 1-0 home victory over Sudden Carling, Large the scorer.

The top four continue to battle it out in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 as leaders AFC Royton found their top of the table status restricted to just one week as goals from Howson and McLoughlin gave fourth placed Wardle 3rds a narrow victory, Lawton netting for the visitors. Season long leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds returned to the top with a seven goal thumping of previously in form Sudden Carling 2nds at Matthew Moss whilst Castleton 2nds held on to third place with a 3-1 home victory over Donkey Dodgers. Hargreaves and Smith had Castleton two goals to the good inside the first four minutes though it took Donkey just four more minutes to get back into the game. The expected goal feast then failed to materialise as Castleton dominated play territorially though Donkey occasionally looked dangerous on the break. A second goal from Hargreaves late on rounded off the scoring and gave Castleton the three points they deserved though Donkey’s spirited and skilful performance will surely bring them greater reward on another day.

A game at Bellholme is a pleasure to behold though Fothergill & Whittles may not agree after slipping to defeat by the odd goal in five whilst Rochdale Asia 2nds edged their mid table clash with Sun Hotel thanks to goals from Dumitru (2) Malik and Waraich.

Whilst many eyes will be on the two key Premier Division clashes this weekend there’s an interesting fixture in the second division as third placed Castleton 2nds travel to New Barn to take on second placed AFC Royton with both clubs in a position to go top if leaders Whitworth Valley 2nds slip up in their away fixture with Donkey Dodgers at Firgrove.