Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Date published: 15 April 2010


As the league season in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League heads towards a fascinating conclusion so too do the group stages of the respective cup competitions.

Apart from Syke and Castleton’s complete dominance of Division 1 and the E Lythgoe Memorial Trophy Groups very little else of matter has been decided to date.

Routine victories for both those teams see them head their respective groups thus avoiding each other in the semi final stages of that competition though who they will play is as uncertain as the British weather! In Group A Weavers 2nds meet Rochdale Sacred Heart at Firgrove knowing anything better than a three goal defeat will send them through to meet Castleton but the picture is a much more confused one in Group B where Wardle 2nds will need to better Jacks House’s result by three goals to pip them to the runners up spot and a semi final v Syke.

Wardle’s already difficult task would have been rendered nigh impossible but for some serious damage limitation last weekend in keeping Castleton’s wining margin down to only 5-3 whilst Jacks House may yet look back on a 5-2 win at basement club Woodbank as being good but perhaps not quite good enough?! We shall see!

What is crystal clear is Wardle’s serene progress to the knock out stage of the AW Trippier Cup as last weekend’s 7-0 beating of Roca Juniors sends them through with a 100% record to date and not a goal conceded. Relegated Harlequin have enjoyed a good cup run in Group B and can also look forward to a semi final tie but the big question in this competition is who against?

Group A has proved much the tighter of the two groups and any two of Fothergill & Whittles, Whitworth Valley or Weavers can still progress. A point for Fothergills in their final group game against Valley will send them through but defeat could open the door to their two rivals, both of whom recorded comfortable 4-1 victories last Saturday.

And so to the C Potts Cup where surprisingly narrow away victories for Whitworth Valley 2nds, 1-0 at Rochdale Asia 2nds, and AFC Royton, 2-1 winners at Todmorden Vets, settled Group A. Both progress with Valley topping the group courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Castleton 2nds have qualified from Group B thanks in part to their expected away victory over Fothergill & Whittles 2nds but also Donkey’s failure to gain the point they needed at Sun Hotel to ensure their passage into the semis. Sun’s 2-0 win means they will now qualify if they beat bottom club Fothergills in their final group game.

All but one of those issues will be decided this afternoon as the respective clubs go in search of those elusive points whilst Rochdale AFC continue their search for just one elusive point at Spotland!

Fingers crossed.

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