Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

As the ROAFL season moves into its final stages Weavers maintained a degree of interest in the Concept Filter Products Premier Division title race with a 90th minute winner against previously unbeaten leaders Castleton at Matthew Moss.

With four games still to play Castleton can still be caught by any one of three clubs but Wardle’s faint title hopes were extinguished by a Kenny O’Brien hat trick in a 4-1 defeat at Syke.

The relegation battle took an interesting turn with Whitworth Valley’s failure to fulfill their fixture against Roca Juniors but Rochdale Asia could not take advantage as they slipped to yet another heavy home defeat, this time to the feet of Fothergills and Whittles. A half time scoreline of 2-2 would have given Rochdale Asia hopes of repeating their early season league victory over F&W but a hat trick from Platt in a much improved second half display saw the visitors comfortable winners in the end.

To compound Valley’s woes the second team crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season at title rivals Jacks House. In an end to end first half both sides had several chances to score but it was Jacks who went in with a crucial two goal advantage. Two penalties in the first fifteen minutes of the second period put the game out of Valley’s reach and Sutcliffe completed a personal hat trick in Jacks final tally of seven.

With the Jacks House v Peels Arms game subject to an LFA hearing Weavers 2nds moved back to the top of the table after edging a twelve goal thriller with Hargreaves at Firgrove. With games in hand Jacks are still clear title favourites but the weekend’s fortunes have now made it advantage Weavers in the race for second place.

Peels Arms started strongly against Rochdale Sacred Heart and Rowlatt converted from close range after his initial effort came back off the post. The same player then made it two from the penalty spot after Woods cross had been handled in the box. Simpson and Lomas went close as Hearts spent most of the game on the back foot and Rowlatt completed the scoring, and his hat trick, with fifteen minutes to play. It wasn’t a good day for the bottom club as wins for Sudden Carling and Wardle 2nds significantly increased the prospect of relegation for Hearts.

Fothergill and Whittles seconds maintained their lead at the top of the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division after completing the double over a somewhat lackluster Syke seconds at Firgrove. Peter McLoughlin’s early double put his side in charge and a fortuitous strike from his namesake Paul made the game safe. Collins’ late strike crashed the McLoughlin party as Paul added his second late on also and maximum points from their final two games will make life very interesting at the top as Balderstone moved ominously into third place after dealing out a twelve goal pasting to hapless Horse & Farrier at Springhill, a hat trick here for Petrillo.
Sun Hotel’s title hopes received a severe setback at Newbarn as AFC Royton recorded a vital 2-1 win thanks to goals from Cole and King and Jacks House 2nds arrested their slide down the table with a similar scoreline at Nuttall Park against cup specialists Woodbank.

A win for Castleton this weekend will clinch the title in their first season in the top flight while Whitworth Valley 2nds can only hope for a slip up from Weavers 2nds at Prestwich Town in Division 1. AFC Royton and Sun Hotel meet for the second week running in Divison 2 and Fothergill & Whittles have a must win home game against second placed Wardle 3rds.