Rochdale Online Alliance League Round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Castleton’s impressive start to their first season in the top tier of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League continued, with a comfortable victory at Rawstron Street over a Whitworth Valley side that was never going to make life easy for their visitors. Goals from Kearney, McEvoy and Feeney ensured their side’s 100% record remained intact.

Weavers’ management have already identified Castleton as a major threat to their ambitions to retain the title, and they handed out a seven goal thrashing to Asia at Firgrove, with goals from Hodson (2), Peters (2), Sands, Hand and man of the match Steel.

The division’s other new boys, Syke, are not finding life as easy, and slipped to a 2-3 home defeat to Roca Juniors. Despite starting well, Syke were guilty of ball watching, as Sumner opened the scoring for Roca, before a good move involving Kershaw and Traynor was finished by Fairclough at the far post. Kershaw then put Syke ahead, but more lax defending allowed Akram in again to equalise before the break. The home side dominated in the second period, but are not finding goals as easy to come by in this division, and they were punished minutes from time when a carelessly conceded free kick was bundled home from close range by Akram.

Fothergill & Whittles have started slowly so Rochdale Asia secured their first win of the season with goals from Butt (2) and Ali, with McLoughlin netting the home side’s consolation goal.

In the top clash in the Matterson Cranes Division 1, leaders Peels Arms were beaten 3-1 by a Jacks House side that shaded the first half and went in front on the half hour mark. It could have been worse but for an excellent penalty save by Ankers, but Jacks were two up early in the second period before Rowlatt reduced the arrears with a fine volley after good work from Lomas and Pownall. Peels now enjoyed their best spell of the game, but Rowlatt squandered a golden opportunity to equalise, and Jacks secured all three points with their third goal in the closing minutes.

In a game sponsored by Ace Electrics of Oldham Road, Weavers 2nds trailed by a single goal at the interval against with Castleton 2nds, before some half time home-truths produced a much improved second half performance. Atkinson levelled matters, and Murray netted the winner on his debut with quarter of an hour to play. Shepherd was outstanding at the back for the winners, and Stewart made a string of outstanding saves to keep Castleton at bay.

Curiously, the remaining three games in this division ended all-square with Hargreaves, Whitworth Valley 2nds and Wardle 2nds taking hard earned away points at Prestwich Town, Rochdale Sacred Heart and Waggon Athletic respectively.

Chris Larkin fired Sudden Carling 2nds in front after seventeen minutes in their home game with Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 leaders Sun Hotel at Matthew Moss, with Sam Lee levelling matters after half an hour. In an end-to-end second period, Sun shaded possession, but Sudden had the better chances until Lee and Smythe netted the goals, giving all three points for Sun.

Horse & Farrier’s new-found defensive prowess didn’t last long, as a McLoughlin hat-trick and goals from Collins and Houghton gave Fothergill & Whittles a surprisingly comfortable win at Firgrove.

Elsewhere in this division AFC Royton didn’t have things all their own way at bottom club Woodbank, with Lawton double eventually seeing them through to victory. Jacks House 2nds continued their bright start with a 5-1 victory at Rochdale Asia 2nds, and Wardle 3rds also went nap at home to Syke 2nds.

Many of our teams are in LFA County Cup action with the pick of the home ties at Walsden Rec, as Jacks House take on a Prairie United side currently top of the Lancashire Amateur League Division 1 in their bid for an immediate return to the top flight. At Rutherford Park, Wardle take on Southport Amateurs, once a force to be reckoned with in the LAL, but now playing their football in the quieter waters of the Preston & District League. The third local outfit are home are Weavers who will start favourites against BAE Canberra at Matthew Moss 3G.