ROAFL report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

League leaders Wardle made it four wins out of four in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division, and there were significant wins for Balderstone, Westdene, Jacks House and White Lion as teams across all three divisions proved their title credentials in week six of the ROAFL.

Wardle had seven different scorers in their 9-2 thrashing of Rochdale Asia at Rutherford Park, with Darren Smith and Ryan Hill leading the way with two goals each.

Jason Dearden, Robert Dorrington, Steven Taylor and Jordan Wallis also netted for Wardle, who will face similarly unbeaten Balderstone in two weeks time.

Balderstone have only played twice, but their 5-2 home win against Fothergill & Whittles last weekend, helped by Jack Taylor’s two goals, was their visitors’ first league defeat of the season.

Moorcock replaced Fothergill & Whittles in second place with an Omaar Shamim hat-trick the highlight of their 8-3 win against FC Bury Town at Firgrove.

In the top division’s other game, Whitworth Valley edged a tight game against Asia at Hopwood Hall as goals from Nathan Brown, Matthew Dell and Alex Mycock saw them to a 3-2 win.

Westdene are in LFA Cup Second Round action this week at home to current holders Langho FC, but they enter the game after extending their unbeaten start to the season with a 5-0 away win at Rochdale Sacred Heart - Tim Maltman, Mark Wain, Kevin Stout, Dominic Clarke and Paul Hoey scored their goals.

Their main title challenge in the Matterson Cranes First Division this season appears to be coming from the border as Jacks House beat Hargreaves 5-1 to maintain their 100% start to the season.

In the Matthew Montgomery & Co Second Division, leaders White Lion beat a re-energised Sudden side 5-3 to stay one point clear of second-placed Woodbank, who were helped to a 5-2 win against AFC Royton by Gino Taylor’s hat trick.

Fothergill & Whittles 3rds and Wardle 3rds are behind the top two but lost ground after a 1-1 draw with each other at Greenvale.

Struggling Horse & Farrier are still without a win after losing 7-2 to second-bottom side Rochdale Galaxy.

The majority of first and second division sides will be in President’s Cup action this weekend, while Balderstone face an away trip to LAL First Division side Hesketh Casuals in the Lancashire Cup.