ROAFL Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

On a day of cup action at home and abroad the most significant result came arguably in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division meeting between Fothergill & Whittles and Moorcock at Whittles Park.

Following success in their first season Moorcock were promoted directly into the top tier as the Management Committee looked to make each of the divisions more competitive.

Understandably the Moorcock management team had some misgivings over the move but knowledgeable and impartial observers were confident they would add an extra dimension and offer the “establishment” a realistic challenge.

Those doubts must have been allayed, and opinions verified, after Moorcock’s comprehensive 7-2 victory over Fothergills; a win that had the experienced Fothergills’ manager, Martin Nuttall, acknowledging the quality of their performance and victory on the day, even though the defeat must have hurt given his own teams progress over the past couple of seasons.

The win maintains second place for Paul Caton’s side but they remain five points behind leaders Wardle, who extended their one hundred percent record to five games with a 3-1 home win over Asia thanks to goals from Smith (2) and Bentley. 

Whitworth Valley are now up into third. An Andrew Clegg hat trick was the highlight of their double figure dissection of struggling Rochdale Asia at Firgrove.

No cup joy abroad for our remaining clubs in the LFA County Cup as Westdene were beaten 5-2 at home by holders Langho FC and a Balderstone side in the throes of redevelopment went down 6-2 at Hesketh Casuals.

At home the day’s best cup result belonged to AFC Royton as goals from Grant, Ogden, Wild, Bentley and Taylor earned them a 5-2 “home” win over higher tier opposition in the form of Whitworth Valley 2nds at Firgrove.

At Matthew Mossthere was little to choose between Sudden and Fothergill & Whittles 3rds in the opening twenty minutes until goals from Rowell (28) and Collins (35) induced something of a meltdown in the Sudden ranks. However, their indiscipline went unpunished as Fothergills missed chances to extend their lead before the half time whistle.

A very different Sudden after the break as they dominated possession and pushed Fothergills back only to be caught on the break, concede a penalty and watch Collins convert to give the visitors a three goal advantage.

With nothing to lose Sudden poured forward for the remainder of the game only to find Grindrod enjoying one of those days in the Fothergills’ goal.

Two more goals from Spencer (72 and 75) sealed the win for the men from Greenvale.

There were comprehensive wins for Rochdale Sacred Heart, White Lion and Balderstone 2nds while an emerging Woodbank side could be in for for league and cup success this season on the evidence of an excellent hat trick from James McDonald and an impressive team display in their eight goal demolition of Wardle 3rds at Nuttall Park.