Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Another piece of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League jigsaw fell into place last weekend as Rochdale Asia’s home defeat to Weavers means they cannot now avoid relegation from the Concept Filter Products Premier Division. The win for Weavers necessitates a play off for the runners up spot with Wardle at a date and venue to be determined by the Management Committee. 

Elsewhere, goals from Younis and Altahir were not enough to prevent Asia from slipping to a home defeat against Roca Juniors, which leaves both sides fighting relegation along with Whitworth Valley who went down 4-0 at Syke through goals from O’Brien (2), Fairclough and Wilkinson.

Jacks House now look certain to secure the Matterson Cranes Division1 title following a comprehensive 7-2 away win at Springhill against a Waggon side that has completely its way in 2011. Four goals from Danny Brown mean Jacks require eight points from their remaining five games to be champions whilst Waggon are now in serious danger of relegation after a run in which they have taken just four points from the last twenty one available.

Weavers are determined to push Jacks all the way after inflicting a rare home defeat on Peels Arms by the odd goal in five at Goshen, but Whitworth Valley 2nds hopes of the title were dealt a severe blow by Castleton 2nds at Rawstron Street. Hayes, Hargreaves and Trippier netted the unanswered goals that inflicted only a third league defeat of the season on Valley’s second string. 

Any one of the bottom five is in serious danger of relegation in this division and of the five the only winners were bottom club Rochdale Sacred Heart who gave themselves real hope of avoiding the drop with an invaluable 4-3 away win at Sudden Carling. The defeat plunges Sudden into the dogfight along with Hargreaves, beaten 3-0 at Wardle 2nds, Large (2) and Johnson the scorers there, and even Prestwich Town cannot consider themselves safe on nineteen points given that they only have two games left to play.

Events off the pitch are seriously clouding the title race in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 with two failed fixtures last Saturday hot on the heels of Syke 2nds untimely demise.

Though forced out of action because Sudden Carling 2nds couldn’t fulfil their fixture Balderstone are still odds on favourites for the title, while any one of five clubs could still take the runners up spot, and AFC Royton were the day’s big winners with a crucial home victory over fellow promotion chasers Wardle 3rds at New Barn. The King boys, Barry and Ryan, Hague and Cole were on target in a 4-2 win that takes them to the top of the table for the first time this season. 

Meanwhile Sun Hotel moved up from sixth to fourth with a comfortable home win over Woodbank, Hudson (2), White and Harriss-Hudson their scorers.

Three crucial games in this division coming up as third placed Fothergill & Whittles 2nds travel to Sun Hotel on Thursday evening and then its top versus second two days later as AFC Royton go to Balderstone and fifth placed Sudden Carling 2nds entertain Wardle 3rds in sixth.