Rochdale Online Alliance League round up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Weavers joined Wardle at the top of the Concept Filter Products Premier Division after a comfortable 3-0 home win over a Roca side that has found goals hard to come by in the opening weeks of the new ROAFL season. Sykes, Hands and Taylor scored the goals that take their side level on points with Wardle with a game in hand.

Wardle were hard hit by absent first teamers for their tricky trip to Rawstron Street but were soon ahead through a typical piece of Darren Smith opportunism and they had chances to extend that lead before they were hit by a quick one two from Valley’s Hoyle and Brown after almost identical moves down the left hand side. True to form to date Valley quickly gifted Wardle an equaliser and that proved an accurate reflection of a well contested first period.

Wardle took an early second half lead with a carbon copy of Valley’s two goals and both sides had chances before Halstead scrambled home an equaliser on the hour mark. The leaders then contrived to make a real hash of a free kick midway inside their own half and were left appealing for an offside flag that never came as Brown ran through to net his second goal of the game.

Late penalty appeals from Smith were waved away and Wardle were left to rue a defeat that may not prove too costly in a division that would appear to be far more closely contested than in seasons past.

Which is why FC Bury Town may be wondering why their good early season form has left them with only three points from four games following their latest setback, a 6-3 reverse at Walsden Rec against a Jacks House side that has now moved into third place after a slow start.

Joining them on seven points are Fothergill & Whittles after they had the foresight to reverse their home fixture with Asia to the Hopwood Hall 3G and recorded a comfortable victory over the division’s basement side. Asia led early through Yasser Ahmed and only a brilliant recovery save by Whitelaw prevented them from doubling their lead. Crossley soon levelled after good work from Law who then turned scorer after Platt’s cross from the left found him in space.
Provider turned scorer seemed to be the fashion as Platt then went through on his own to extend Fothergill’s lead and the same player sealed all three points midway through the second period. Crawley’s late goal for Asia was mere consolation and Fothergills can now turn their attentions to Europe as they prepare for the visit of Carnforth Rangers in the last thirty two this Saturday.

In the Matterson Cranes First Division Balderstone exacted swift revenge for their recent home defeat by Wardle 2nds with a 3-1 victory in the return fixture at Rutherford Park – Petrillo, Atkinson and Shaw the scorers – whilst Weavers 2nds moved into third place with a 4-2 home win over Rochdale Sacred Heart with goals from Lucas Forshaw 2, Jack Forshaw and Andrews.
Whitehead, Mooney and Curran were on the mark for a Waggon side that were so close to gaining their first point of the season against a Whitworth Valley 2nds side grateful to gain their first win of the season and open up a four point gap at the foot of the table, whilst in the days other games in this division Castleton were far too strong for Fothergill & Whittles second string and it was honours even at Firgrove between Rochdale Asia and Hargreaves.

Moorcock’s 1-0 win over Wardle 3rds not only avenged their cup defeat of seven days ago at the feet of the same opposition but completed an unwanted treble for the Wardle club as all three sides slipped to their first defeats of the season on the same day.

With AFC Royton being held at home by White Lion the win allowed Moorcock to regain bragging rights in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Second Division though Bridge remain hot on their heels after a comfortable home win over bottom side Horse & Farrier, a position gratefully relinquished by Woodbank as a James McDonald hat trick gave them their first points at the expense of Castleton 2nds at Nuttall Park.

In this division’s remaining fixture a Simon Clark goal rescued a point for Fothergill & Whittles third string at Greenvale against Jacks House 2nds.

Weavers are also in County Cup action this weekend with a home tie against Chew Moor Brook, conquerors of Rochdalians in the previous round, with a home tie awaiting the winners in the round of the last sixteen in mid November.

First entertain second in the second division as Bridge travel to Rakewood to face Moorcock whilst Wardle have the swiftest possible opportunity to revenge last weekend’s defeat as they meet Whitworth Valley at Rutherford Park.