ROAFL Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The contest to secure second place behind champions elect Wardle in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division is coming down to a three horse race after last weekend’s results whilst Woodbank took another significant step towards securing the Matthew Montgomery & Co Second Division title.

With Fothergill & Whittles out of action Balderstone had the chance to narrow the gap to just a single point with a home game against winless Rochdale Asia at Matthew Moss. However, it was a chance they failed to take despite goals from Kelly 2 and Irving as Rochdale Asia remain a competitive outfit in spite of their league postion and two goals from Malik plus one from Alwarfali ensured the points were shared.
The result allowed FC Bury Town to move within a point of Balderstone, and four of F&W, with a game in hand as doubles from Holmes and Kamran Younis fired them to a 4-1 home win over another understrength Whitworth Valley first eleven.

With White Lion out of action in Division Two Woodbank moved ten points clear of Sudden at the top of the table with a 4-1 home win over Rochdale Galaxy at Nuttall Park, and if they win their remaining three league games, against AFC Royton, Wardle 3rds and Rochdale Galaxy, they will be sure of the title.
Sudden moved clear in second place with a comfortable home win over Wardle 3rds and their league game against White Lion on the 24th April will prove crucial in which of those two teams joins Woodbank in Division One next season.

It appears almost certain now that Hargreaves will be making the reverse journey next season as their latest defeat in the Matterson Cranes First Division, coupled with the resignation of Jacks House, would appear to have condemned them to the drop. As secretary Ian Chester wryly observed they need to stop conceding late goals as an Andrew White hat trick led Fothergill & Whittles 2nds to an 8-3 win at Goshen ; a win that also appears to have secured their safety at the same time.
Although second bottom Whitworth Valley 2nds were well beaten at home by Balderstone 2nds they appear to have too many games in hand over Hargreaves to be dragged into a dog fight at the very bottom.

Attention switches to the cup this weekend with a very interesting looking game at Nuttall Park in the President’s Cup between second division leaders Woodbank and FC Bury Town.
The most competitive tie on paper would appear to be at Rutherford Park as first take on second from the Premier Division whilst Moorcock will surely prove too strong on the day for Wardle 2nds at Firgrove?

The aforementioned resignation of Jacks House has handed AFC Royton a walk over into the semi finals of the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy where they will definitely be joined by a Fothergill & Whittles team as the 2nds play the 3rds at Whittle Park – more than just local pride at stake there for Mr Buckley to manage !!