ROAFL Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

As the season reaches the final two months, and the Fixtures’ Secretary wears out his prayer mat to the Weather Gods, the Ws are again dominating the silverware contests across all three divisions.

Wardle appear to have a second successive Premier Division title sewn up and their seconds are contesting Division 1 with impressive newcomers Westdene.

The most intriguing contest is emerging in Division Two however, as White Lion closed the gap on leaders Woodbank to a single point with two games in hand after their last gasp 3-2 win over the leaders at Firgrove last weekend. 

Woodbank had inflicted Lion’s first league defeat of the season the previous week but they produced a muted first half performance and were more than fortunate to turn round only a goal down. Lion were all over the visitors from the first minute, displaying greater energy and creativity and dominating possession. Early claims for a penalty were denied by the referee and they continued to dominate as they moved the ball around with speed and accuracy. The goal when it came was a classic ; a clearance landing at the feet of Cass some twenty five yards from goal and he produced a fearsome dipping drive that was destined for the back of the net from the moment it left his foot.

With more control in front of goal Lion would have been out of sight and it was 2-0 on forty seven minutes when Herbert converted from the spot after he had been tripped. Woodbank were showing signs of rousing themselves, with Frost leading by example, and it was from his low corner from the left that Keeley reduced the deficit after sixty eight minutes. Lion continued to knock the ball to feet but they had not learnt their lesson defensively as another clever Frost corner was turned in at the near post by Baxter to level matters on seventy three.

Statistically most teams who are two down and come back do not lose the game and as play switched from end to end this seemed to be the case again until Lion gained a corner of their own in the last minute of time added on. The corner caused confusion in the Woodbank box and Cass’s somewhat mishit shot was handled by Taylor who was unaware of a colleague behind him who would have cleared with ease. Herbert duly converted his second penalty of the afternoon and the four point gap had been reduced to one with just seconds to play.

The other beneficiaries were Sudden who beat Fothergill & Whittles 3rds courtesy of goals from Knight and McKenzie at Matthew Moss to move clear in third place and they still have games to play against the top two, whilst in the day’s other game in this division “only” two goals this week for Lewis Wild as AFC Royton beat Rochdale Galaxy 3-1 at Firgrove.

In the Matterson Cranes First Division a win for Jacks House at Redvales would have taken them to within two points of leaders Westdene with a game in hand, but goals from Berry, Boyoh, Morley and Wilkins ensured that was never a realistic outcome of the game.

Instead it’s Rochdale Sacred Heart up to the giddy heights of second in the table after a 5-4 win at Whittles Park that ended Fothergill & Whittles 2nds recent unbeaten run.

In the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division a Paul Sykes goal was the only difference between top and bottom at Rutherford Park as bottom club Rochdale Asia gave leaders Wardle a torrid afternoon from first whistle to last. There are no less than thirty five points separating the two sides but there was no suggestion of that throughout the ninety minutes according to referee Dave Chisnall.

A welcome three points for Balderstone, 5-3 winners at FC Bury Town, thanks to a hat trick from Irving and two from Brookes, whilst Asia and Moorcock contested a 1-1 draw at Hopwood Hall with the collector’s item here a goal from the Asia keeper Ahmed Maqsood.