Rochdale Online Alliance League Round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The two outstanding title issues were resolved last Saturday, the final day of the league season, as Weavers retained their Premier Division title and Whitworth Valley 2nds celebrated their first season back in the Alliance by clinching the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 title.

After 1440 minutes of competitive football Weavers finally overhauled long time leaders Wardle in the final 90 with a comfortable 6-1 home victory over Harlequin. The head to head battles between the two proved decisive, Weavers taking four points out of the six to deny Wardle, and the two meet again this weekend in the semi final of the AW Trippier Cup.
Harlequin have the opportunity to make up for their disappointing league campaign when they take on Fothergill & Whittles in this competition’s other semi final.

Whitworth Valley 2nds late equaliser in their crucial clash with Castleton 2nds seven days ago tilted the balance of the title race in their favour and they made no mistake at Whittles Park, cruising to a 6-1 victory over Sun Hotel to record their fifteenth, and arguably, most important win of the campaign.

In the E Lythgoe Memorial Trophy Castleton overcame a weakened Weavers 2nds outfit to earn themselves a final place against title winners Syke.
In truth it was a game that Castleton always had full control of but determined defensive play from Weavers, allied to some profligate finishing from Castleton, ensured the result remained in the balance for a lot longer than it really ought to have done. Indeed when Weavers reduced the deficit to 1-3 on the hour mark they then squandered three presentable chances to get right back into the game before hesitant goalkeeping from their stand in number one allowed Castleton to race clear in the final quarter.
A hat trick for Oldham, plus contributions from Holmes, Kearney, Hilton and Carter, means Castleton will have the opportunity to gain a measure of revenge for their disappointment in losing out in the league title race to their cup final opponents.
The final is at Rochdale Town FC this Saturday and kicks off at 4pm.

The second division’s top two teams also go head to head at the semi final stage of the C Potts Cup as Castleton 2nds take on Whitworth Valley 2nds in a hard to call contest whilst AFC Royton meet Sun Hotel in the other half of the draw.

The final of that competition will kick off at 1pm on Saturday 15th May and will be followed at 4pm by the final of the AW Tripper Cup – both at Rochdale Town FC.