ROAFL Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

A new Rochdale Online Alliance Football League season and a new name at the top of the first Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division table as Rochdale Sacred Heart made it two wins out of two with a 5-0 midweek win over Westdene at Fox Park.

Four days earlier goals from Kershaw and Elsworth had been just enough to edge out new boys Walsden and the management’s confidence that they will not be out of their depth in the top division already looks justifiable. 

Tucked in behind them are F&W who squeezed past Star Athletic, formerly Asia, by the odd goal in seven at Hopwood Hall and then made it a goalless and disappointing start for promoted White Lion with a 2-0 Wednesday night win at Whittles Park.

White Lion, along with Woodbank, are fully expected to make a big impact in the Premier Division this season but they will need to show greater commitment and self discipline on the evidence of their opening game against another of the league’s new teams, Oldham Boro, if they are to fulfil that potential. 

Boro are the second string of the NWCL outfit and look to have a potent mix of youth and experience as they systematically dismantled Lion in their opening game. An explosive start saw them ahead inside two minutes and they played the ball around on a difficult early season surface with consummate ease. With goals at regular intervals from Adams 3, Wilson 2, Ogunnuga and Keighley their trip to F&W this Saturday is undoubtedly the match of the day.

King William IV, alias Moorcock, made the difficult trip to Nuttall Park and came away with all three points courtesy of a Liam Jackson hat trick,whilst FC Bury Town started well with a home win over Balderstone. However, it was roles reversed midweek as Woodbank picked up their first points with a 2-1 home win over Bury. 

A mixed start too for Westdene, whose first team have progressed to the L&C, and they will have been encouraged by their away win at Whitworth Valley, albeit with their hosts markedly under strength, only to be brought back to reality midweek by RSH.

Following a long and difficult season last time Rochdale Asia will be savouring the heady delights of successive wins over Whitworth Valley 2nds and F&W Rovers, thanks to goals from Quinn 2, Khan and Rafiq, which take them to the top of the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 1 table.

Balderstone 2nds are level with them on six points as they overcame Chadderton Park and Wardle OB with a greater degree of difficulty during the week. 

Better starts than usual also for Hargreaves, 4-3 winners over new boys Syke at Redvales, with goals from Galbraith 2, Kay and the colourfully named Buba Johnson, and Horse & Farrier who drew 0-0 at Mighty Dragons on Wednesday night.

Dragons had been slain (sorry!) by Rochdale Galaxy in their first outing whilst Sudden had been well beaten by Andrew White’s five goals for F&W 2nds the same afternoon.

It was role reversal at Matthew Moss midweek as Sudden took Galaxy to the cleaners with an impressive display of one touch quick passing football, crowned by what may well remain the goal of the season from Tony Knight whose overhead kick from the left hand corner of the 18 yard box flew into the top right hand corner of the Galaxy goal.

The visitors battled gamely but could not match a Sudden side that on this evidence look capable of the title and their visit to Balderstone 2nds on Saturday is undoubtedly the game of the day in this division.