Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Wardle and Weavers head into this weekend’s key clash in the BKC Trophies Premier Division on the back of comfortable victories at the expense of Whitworth Valley and relegated Dusty Miller respectively.

Victory for Wardle in this, their final league fixture, will make them champions, but any other result will hand the advantage to Weavers who have two games in hand on the leaders.

An interesting afternoon in store for all concerned and, no doubt, for the match officials – the experienced man in the middle Tim Buckley accompanied by assistants Trevor Mayne and Mike Willmore – in a game that kicks off at 2pm on Firgrove.

The rest of last weekend’s action focused on the three divisional cup competitions and Fothergills & Whittles 3-2 away victory over Asia has assured them of a place in the knock out stages of the premier cup competition. They will be joined almost inevitably by Wardle and definitely by Harlequin, relegated in the league, but enjoying a break in the cup it would seem!

A superb Michael Pearce free kick set the Quins on their way in a dominant first half performance and an early second half equaliser from Roca served only to spur the home side on as first Midgley and then Bates extended their lead. Sub Simon Butler made it 4-1 before defender Mike Rothwell netted only his second goal in over ten years of loyal service for the Quins who await their semi final opponents with “bated” breath!

In the E Lythgoe Memorial Trophy for Division 1 sides Castleton secured their semi final place with a routine, if uninspiring, 5-1 victory over Woodbank, whilst Sudden Carling’s 2-1 away victory over Rochdale Sacred Heart in Group A has only served to almost guarantee semi final places for the other two teams in this group – Syke and Weavers 2nds!

Another team enjoying their day in the sun are Donkey Dodgers, bottom of Division 2 but with a one hundred percent record and a semi final place in the C Potts Cup if they can avoid defeat in their final game in Group B. A 6-4 home win over Fothergills & Whittles 2nds means Sun Hotel have it all to do in spite of their three goal away victory over Sudden Carling 2nds at Matthew Moss.

By contrast nothing is decided in Group A as Wardle 3rds 2-1 victory at New Barn over AFC Royton means any two of the five teams in this group can still qualify, though Whitworth Valley 2nds 8-1 thrashing of Todmorden Boro Vets makes it unlikely the West Yorkshiremen will make it through to the knock out stages.

The cup takes a back seat this weekend and a second club may well be celebrating a title triumph come 4pm as victory for Syke in their final league game of the season will see them crowned as Asia Restaurant Division 1 champions at Firgrove.

Curiously, the top three are all away from home in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 and all should record victories as the league season enters its final month.
But, as they say, it’s a funny old game!