Rochdale Online Alliance League round up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

At the ROAFL AGM last June the clubs voted in favour of experimentation in the Premier Division based on the Scottish model and that has made for an interesting period prior to the 3:4 divide in mid March.

With Weavers and Wardle assured of two places FC Bury Town met Fothergill & Whittles at Seedfield last Saturday knowing that only a win would be good enough to keep themselves in the hunt for that third place. In a game that referee Kevin Howson describes as “competitive” win they did courtesy of two goals from Fielding and one from Pyrah. Fothergills reply from Law wasn’t enough to prevent an ill timed third defeat of the season and they now trail Bury by a point but crucially have a game in hand, and the two teams still have to meet at Whittles Park.

Asia have gleaned just a single point on their travels this season, and the heavy conditions at Rutherford Park were not conducive to their passing style of play, though they matched Wardle in the first period going in level at two apiece at the break. It was all downhill from there for the bottom club though as Williams completed his hat trick and Wardle eventually claimed a 7-3 win that reduces the gap at the top to four points.

In the day’s only game in the Matterson Cranes First Division Balderstone closed the gap on leaders Wardle 2nds to three points with a game in hand after demolishing Waggon Athletic 7-1 at Springhill Sports Centre with goals from Atkinson 2, Shaw 2, Chaplin, Hassall and McCarroll, whilst in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Second Division AFC Royton lost even more ground on the top club Bridge after surrendering three goals without reply at Sudden Carling. Wardle 3rds also lost ground, and two points, after a 2-2 stalemate at Nuttall Park against a much improved Woodbank side who are now seventh, and so Moorcock, who exited the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy at the feet of Rochdale Asia, can take consolation in the relative improvement of their promotion credentials.

Rochdale Sacred Heart can anticipate progression in the A&M Trophy without kicking a ball after Jacks House 2nds were unable to field a side, and those player problems appear to have affected the first team as well as only a goal in the final minute secured the Premier Division outfit’s passage into the next round of the President’s Cup against Division 2 basement outfit Horse & Farrier at Firgrove. 

Jacks were somewhat guilty of over elaboration in the first period but with most of the possession and two goals from captain Ashman they were no doubt envisaging a comfortable second forty five minutes. Not so as Murphy reduced the arrears eight minutes into the second period and Farrier then really took the game to their opponents with an impressive mix of good passing, strong tackling and extra commitment. Jacks hit the bar, Murphy wasted a golden opportunity to level matters and then Farrier hit the underside of the bar as play switched from end to end. In time added on a low cross from the left went across the face of the

Jacks goal with no Farrier player able to add the final touch and Jacks broke to good effect and Murphy ended the contest with his side’s third and decisive goal.
A massive effort from Farrier, who have been strengthened by recent signings, and hopefully Jacks will have their missing players back in the fold this weekend.
One club able to see an upset through were White Lion who defeated first division Castleton 4-3 on an adjacent pitch thanks to goals from Blake, Kershaw, Roberts and Lewis while Whitworth Valley needed extra time to overcome first division opposition also in Fothergill & Whittles 2nds.

Premier Division Valley started the brighter and led twice only for Astley to level matters on both occasions before the half time whistle. Both teams tired on a very difficult and heavy pitch and extra time became almost inevitable although player manager Hudson shot over when well placed late on and then had vehement claims for a penalty waved away in the last minute of normal time. With Welsh rugby enthusiasts waiting impatiently both teams found the resources of energy to contest twenty minutes of extra time and, with penalties seemingly inevitable, Clegg provided the moment of quality needed to restore Valley’s lead in the one hundred and first minute and two more goals followed to make the final score a more than flattering 5-2 win for Valley.

And finally more intriguing cup action as the top two teams in the Premier Division are on the road and facing up to potential cup upsets. Leaders Weavers are at runaway Division 2 leaders Bridge in a repeat of their early season LFA Cup clash and Wardle go to Division 1 promotion chasers Balderstone. Both games kick off at 2pm at Heywood Sports Village and Springhill Sports Centre respectively.