ROAFL roundup

Castleton underlined their title ambitions with a resounding 3-1 victory over Whitworth Valley. The momentum was clearly with Castleton as they followed up last week’s emphatic victory over Wardle by taking three more points off one of last season’s title challengers. Jenkins grabbed a brace whilst Hargreaves also got on the score sheet, with Foster netting Valley’s reply. The game was the only one in the Concept Filter Products Premier Division due to County Cup action.

A Steven Faulkner hat trick condemned Castleton’s second string to a narrow defeat against Weavers 2nds in the Matterson Cranes Division 1. Impressive performances from Shepherd and Forshaw and a fine penalty save by goalkeeper Stewart in the first half were crucial to the result. Brierley and Bell scored for Castelton but it was not enough to stop Weavers.

Peels Arms left it late to rescue a point at home to Whitworth Valley 2nds at New Barn. In an action packed match Peels’ Rowlatt missed the best chance of the first half, shooting wide from close range. Valley had a goal disallowed for offside and deserved to go in ahead at the interval but had to wait until the second period to open the scoring. Proctor netted from the spot after Simpson’s reckless challenge gave him the opportunity. Peels’ keeper Ankers then kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves and he was rewarded in the closing moments when Rowlatt’s deflected shot fell into the path of Lomas and he kept a cool head to level the scores.

Elsewhere McNally (2) and Sutcliffe gave Wardle 2nds a valuable three away points at Prestwich Town, whilst Allatt (2) and Yinkore earned Rochdale Sacred Heart a narrow victory over Sudden Carling for whom Teasdale scored twice in vain.

There were four away victories and plenty of goals in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2. Sun Hotel lead the way courtesy of a Andrew White hat trick at Greenvale against Fothergill & Whittles 2nds, who had their own hat trick star in Peter McLoughlin. Douglas (2), Dunn and Lee completed Sun’s seven though two more Fothergill’s goals from Hyland kept the outcome in the balance up to the final whistle. Six different scorers helped Syke 2nds thrash Horse & Farrier at Firgrove whilst Jacks House 2nds overpowered Wardle 3rds at Rakewood by five goals to one.

In the lowest scoring game of the day in this division there was a first league win for new boys Balderstone at Matthew Moss as they put four past Sudden Carling 2nds courtesy of Petrillo (2), Liddle and Moseley.

No less than nine ROAFL sides were on LFA County Cup action with six of our sides progressing safely to Round 2. The pick of the results was champions Weavers victory over Lancashire and Cheshire League Premier Division outfit Old Ashtonians. There were thumping wins for Jacks House, who won 6-0 against Barrow Celtic from the Furness Premier League, and Wardle, 4-0 victors over East Lancs outfit Bacup CC.

Our other three sides moving into Round 2 all did so at the expense of Preston & District League opposition. Fothergill & Whittles won 3-2 at High Cross and Syke 4-0 at East Lancs United whilst 1st Division outfit Waggon Athletic edged out Leyland Athletic in a nine goal thriller.
Not so fortunate were Hargreaves, beaten 2-0 at home by Milton, and our two Division 2 representatives, AFC Royton, who battled hard before succumbing to the only goal of the game against Santos, and Woodbank, definitely second best on the day at Alkrington Dynamos.

The draw for the second round is as follows :

Wardle v Southport Amateurs
Farnworth Town v Fothergill & Whittles
Horwich RMI v Syke
Preston GSA v Waggon Athletic
Jacks House v Prairie United
Weavers v BAE Canberra

Ties to be played on Saturday 2 October.