Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The romance of the cup was fully evident on a day of shocks in both the President’s Cup and the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy in last weekend’s Rochdale Online Alliance Football League programme.

With Roca’s home tie against Fothergill & Whittles the only casualty of the weather the picture in both cup competitions and the Matterson Cranes Division 1 title race became somewhat clearer.

The potential last eight clash between Rochdale Asia and their second string was deemed unlikely by this pundit given the reserves daunting trip to Whitworth Valley. What was definitely not foreseen was the demise of the first team at the hands of Division 2’s Wardle 3rds! But that’s exactly what happened despite Asia taking the lead inside the first five minutes. As their pressure failed to reap rewards Wardle gained in confidence and levelled before the break through Rain.

McLoughlin then struck after fifty five minutes to edge Wardle in front and the struggling Premier Division outfit found themselves struggling to get back into the tie until an equaliser twenty minutes from time restored parity. As Asia poured forward a winner seemed inevitable but when it came with three minutes of normal time to play it came from Wallis to put the Division 2 outfit back ahead and in spite of five minutes of added on time they survived to create the shock of the round.

Wardle’s third string now face a quarter final tie against Whitworth Valley, 5-0 winners over Rochdale Asia 2nds whilst Sudden Carling now await the winners of the Sun Hotel v Wardle delayed last sixteen tie.

Another shock here, though possibly a more predictable one, as Division 2 title chasing Sun proved too strong for visitors Hargreaves in spite of their visitors loftier league status.

All of which leaves just one side definitely through to the last four and no surprise to find it’s runaway Premier Division leaders Castleton as goals from Jenkins, McEvoy, Kearney and Holmes saw them safely past Weavers at Matthew Moss 3G.

Whilst Woodbank have struggled to bank league points for two seasons now they appear to have no such problems in the cup and after despatching Division 1 opposition in the previous round they were at it again last Saturday as two goals from McDonald sent Wardle 2nds tumbling out of the trophy despite Armitage’s reply.

They also are the only side through to the last four as the only other game in this trophy saw Rochdale Sacred Heart overcome the not inconsiderable hurdle of league new boys Balderstone by two goals to one at Firgrove.
The only league action came in the Matterson Cranes Division 1 and it was significant action that saw Weavers 2nds end as the day’s biggest losers as their 4-1 defeat at Jacks House was compounded by Whitworth Valley 2nds five goal thumping of Sudden Carling.

Town, Barker, Hignett and Taylor netted the goals that proved too much for the previous leaders at Walsden Rec and Valley’s win means they are just a point behind with two game in hand on Weavers. It’s hard to see how Jacks can be stopped now although the games still to be played between the top three will ultimately decide the destiny of the Division 1 title.