Rochdale Online Alliance League Round Up

A new season and a great start for the new boys in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League as ten points from twelve against experienced opposition suggests all four teams may well have a part to play in the end of season calculations.

In the Concept Filter Products Premier Division FC Bury Town began with an impressive 3-1 home victory over Whitworth Valley at Seedfield.

Bury began brightly and thought they had taken an early lead when Kamran slipped the ball past the Valley keeper only to see it cleared by Wormald with Bury claiming it had crossed the line. Valley’s response was immediate as a break down the left saw the ball laid back into Clegg’s path and he struck a sweet half volley into the bottom left hand corner from the edge of the area.

The goal stung Bury and they caused Valley constant problems down the left in particular through the pacy Pyra as the game really opened up, and it came as no surprise when Pyra cut into the area and curled a right footed effort into the far corner on twenty four minutes. Within a minute Bury were ahead when Kamran slotted home from close range.

Both sides were looking to create opportunities on a tight pitch but in general defences were on top though Valley were disrupted by injuries to two players and grateful for the opportunity to reorganise at half time. However, the additional loss of Marshall at the break meant the visitors were really up against it as the second period began. A well contested game became a touch feisty for a period as tackles flew in but both sides reacted sensibly and the game settled again into an exciting end to end affair that could have gone either way but was settled in the end by Pyra’s second goal two minutes from time when Valley failed to clear a corner from the left.

At Whittles Park Fothergills began well with Holbrook and Law causing Weavers problems but it was the visitors who took the lead after fifteen minutes through Sykes. Fothergills were level before the break when a raking cross from Craw was headed home at the back post by the unmarked Doyle.

In terms of possession the home side dominated the second forty five but with only a deflected effort from Holbrook to show for their efforts a Weavers’ leveller was always likely and it duly came with just minutes to play.

In the afternoon’s other top flight game a solid start at Rutherford Park for Wardle as goals from Whiteside and Smith carried them to a 2-0 home win over Roca.

Promoted Balderstone made a bright start to their Matterson Cranes Division 1 campaign with a 5-1 home victory over Weavers 2nds at Springhill Sports Centre courtesy of goals from Chaplin (2), Hassall, Dowsing and Andrews.

Elsewhere, Wardle 2nds continued their excellent pre season form with a 4-0 away victory at Castleton. Having been starved of possession for much of the first half hour Wardle struck first through a fine Williams strike from twenty five yards and quickly added further goals from Worrall and a second for Williams.

O’Sullivan sprang the Castleton off side trap to make it four on the hour and that was effectively game over.

Whitworth Valley 2nds had spent all of last season vying for the runners up spot with Weavers 2nds but they too did not get off to the best of starts at Rawstron Street as Rochdale Scared Heart forced a share of the spoils.

Valley played some expansive and entertaining football but with no end result and as Hearts began to get a grip in midfield they took the lead through Allat after thirty one minutes. As Valley struggled to respond Terry made it 2-0 and Hearts were unlucky not to go in at the break even further ahead.

Into the second period and Hearts were now well on top and really should have killed the game off but were punished with a little over twenty minutes to play when an innocuous Brown effort reduced the arrears. Now playing with more conviction Valley levelled matters with seven minutes to play through Leivers and struck the post in the final minute though on reflection Hearts deserved at the very least a point from this one.

A rebadged Sun Hotel followed up last season’s promotion with an emphatic away victory against Waggon with goals from White (2), Lee and Culshaw.

Both White Lion and Bridge began life in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 with encouraging home wins against Sudden Carling and Jacks House 2nds respectively.
At Firgrove it was all square at half time as White Lion took an early lead through Lundergen against relegated Sudden Carling only for McKenzie to equalise for the visitors.

The same pattern emerged in a tremendous second half as Lion lead 3-1 and 4-3 only for Sudden to level matters twice before two goals in time added on finally gave the new boys an enthralling victory. Four goals for man of the match Callum Lundergen for the home side and a hat trick for the valiant losers from Fitz McKenzie.

Bridge FC have carried all before them in the youth leagues and now face the transition into open age football so their opening day victory over competitive opposition in Jacks House 2nds will be a massive boost to their confidence. Charnock, Tinker and Riley scored the goals that edged a tight game for the new boys.

Horse & Farrier prevented a clean sweep for the newcomers with a well earned point against Moorcock at Rakewood.

AFC Royton will be looking to finally hit one of those promotion spots after two seasons of so near yet … and they began with a 3-2 home victory over last season’s surprise packet Fothergill & Whittles 3rds at New Barn.

Cole opened the scoring for Royton only for McLoughlin to level by half time. With Cole starring for the home side they dominated the remainder of the game and goals from Atkinson and Holden sealed the victory in spite of Collins late effort for Fothergills.

At Oulder Hill Wardle 3rds made it three wins out of three without so much as a goal conceded by the club as McLoughlin, Dewhurst and Musgrave were on target against Castleton 2nds.

Eight of our teams are in “Europe” once again this weekend though it’s a short haul to the locally named Rochdale St Clements for Jacks House!

Hargreaves have a tough assignment against local opposition also in Rochdalians while Weavers and Bridge have unfortunately been drawn against each other.

Home ties for Fothergill & Whittles ( v Britannia of Barrow ) and FC Bury Town ( v Newburgh Harrock United ) while Waggon and Wardle travel to Horwich RMI and Blackburn United respectively.