Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Based on the evidence of the opening two weeks of the new season the decision to drop a division to guarantee member clubs more football looks like it has paid dividends already. The pattern of results, or more precisely the lack of one, suggests that teams in both divisions are more closely matched and that no league placings are likely to be decided before the final month of the season.

Rochdale Sacred Heart remain the surprise package at the top of the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division as they bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a 4-1 midweek home win over F&W at Fox Park.

Four days earlier goals from Kelly 2, Henderson and Bennett had given Balderstone a win by the odd goal in seven and underlined their title credentials at the same time.

Meanwhile F&W were involved in a quite superb game of football at Whittles Park as new boys Oldham Boro led twice through Melling and Rafferty before settling for a point as F&W replied with penalties from Nick and Chris Holbrook. Both teams played outstanding football, with barely a moment when you could take your eye off a game that League Vice Chairman Trevor Will praised as a magnificent advert for the league.

Equally enthralling was the contest at Walsden Rec as many people’s tip for the title Woodbank came up against the top division’s other newcomers in Walsden C&FC. The tight confines of The Rec are not to Woodbank’s taste or style of football but they adjusted skillfully and took the game to Walsden with McDonald opening the scoring after half an hour of end to end football. Walsden had created their fair share of opportunities and leveled on thirty nine minutes as a right wing corner found its way to the back post and the unmarked Rawlinson headed powerfully home. The second period was played at the same frenetic pace and after the visitors had missed a golden chance to retake the lead it was McDonald with his second of the afternoon to edge them back in front.

A fiercely competitive game had been played in the right manner from the outset and so it was a surprise when Walsden were deservedly reduced to ten men with fifteen minutes to go, but they did not let that affect them and Woodbank’s fallibility at set pieces was exposed again as a Marrow header leveled matters with nine minutes to play.

Both sides had chances to take all three points but in the final analysis a point apiece was appropriate and both teams deserve immense credit for serving up a fantastic game of football.

A minutes silence before all of Saturday’s games was held as a mark of respect for Whitworth Valley’s Nathan Brown who tragically passed away following an accident at work and Valley’s games this weekend have also been called off in memory of a talented and well respected young man.

Irrelevant really to report that Valley opened their account with goals from Foster 2, Greenwood 2 and Proctor as they handed White Lion a third consecutive defeat, and one which heaped further pressure on Lion’s manager Mark Horner, as his young protégées continue to insist they are not equipped to operate in the top division ; a view not shared by Mark or by many experienced observers including F&W manager Martin Nuttall who was very impressed by Lion in their midweek encounter at Whittles Park.

In truth, Lion have not had an easy start fixtures wise and there is no doubt things will improve providing they maintain their self belief and keep together.

If they require further advice on this subject Star manager Saeed Ahmed is the man to talk to as his side’s annual September go slow continued with defeats to King William IV and Walsden ; the latter leaving King William IV with the only one hundred percent record in the division to date.

Talking of which take a bow Hargreaves as the Bury based side have made their best start to the season for many years following their 5-2 away win at Rochdale Galaxy. They and F&W 2nds, comfortable winners over their “stablemates” F&W Rovers, have the only clean records in a Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 1 that promises to be just as tight and competitive as the top division.

The table is topped by the second strings from Balderstone, winners over Horse & Farrier after defeat to Sudden, and Whitworth Valley 2nds, who followed up a crushing victory over H&F inspired by six goal Will Hoyle with a 3-0 midweek win at Mabel Road over Mighty Dragons.

First wins at the weekend for Chadderton Park, Mighty Dragons and Wardle OB serve to underline the openness of this division and it surely won’t be long before the two pointless to date sides, F&W Rovers and Syke, open their respective accounts.