Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

There was one key game in each of the three divisions as the ROAFL season enters its final month and curiously each game involved Wardle FC.

In the LRO Insurance Premier Division Wardle’s first eleven met third placed Fothergill & Whittles at Rutherford Park and edged a competitive game by the odd goal in five. Law opened the scoring for F&W inside the first ten minutes before Wardle began to control play, equalising through Smith after a free kick the visitors felt should not have been taken following a substitution.

A significant number of key games at Rutherford Park this season have seen both sides dominate separate halves of the game and this was no exception as Fothergills took control of the game only to let themselves with poor finishing. Chris Holbrook’s strike was cancelled out by Hill and Wardle keeper Scowcroft underlined his reputation with a series of fine saves when Fothergills did manage to locate the target. Smith’s late winner for Wardle completed a frustrating day for Fothergills and their manager Martin Nuttall as they felt Smith scored from an offside position leaving Wardle as the only realistic challengers now to Weavers in the race for the title. Fothergills can probably concentrate on President’s Cup glory and they face Asia in a fascinating quarter final tie at Hopwood Hall this Saturday.

Whitworth Valley climbed to fourth in the table after a thumping 8-2 win at Seedfield against an FC Bury Town side that are now staring relegation in the face whilst Jacks House edged out Asia 4-3 at Walsden Rec ; Sutcliffe 2, Harrison and Wooler their scorers.

Not such a good day for Wardle’s second string in the Matterson Cranes First Division as they dropped two vital points in pursuit of the title to Rochdale Asia at Firgrove. It could have been much worse as they trailed by two goals at the interval having spent most of the first half arguing with themselves, the referee and anyone else who would listen. Clearly this issue was addressed at half time and they came out with a much more focussed and purposeful attitude and were rewarded with goals from Large and O’Sullivan to rescue a vital point. Asia themselves were nevertheless good value for a point and Azhar Iqbal and Naveed Butt were their first half scorers.

All of which means Wardle now trail leaders Balderstone by five points with a game in hand after Balderstone won 2-1 at Fothergill & Whittles 2nds thanks to goals from Hassall and Shaw. Six points from Castleton at home and Whitworth Valley 2nds away will ensure a second successive divisional title for Balderstone irrespective of Wardle’s results in their remaining fixtures against the same opposition at home and F&W 2nds away.

In the division’s other game Weavers 2nds all but guaranteed third place with a 4-0 win at Whitworth Valley 2nds though they will need to avoid defeat in their final game against Rochdale Asia to ensure finishing above them.

In the Matthew Montgomery & Co Second Division a Jordan Wallis hat trick ended AFC Royton’s lingering hopes of promotion and moved Wardle 3rds above them and into third with a 4-2 win at Rakewood. With three games each to play Wardle remain four points behind second placed Moorcock and the latter would appear on paper to have the easier run in whilst at the other end of the table Horse & Farrier ended their season on a low as their heaviest defeat saw league goal number one hundred and two pass their custodian on its way into the net.

Nevertheless, their attitude and spirit remains something that many other teams simply fail to even aspire to and it is sincerely hoped they will regroup and return come the new season.