Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

King William IV have the only one hundred per cent record left in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division, albeit having played just two league games to date, but they tasted defeat for the first time as Hoole Celtic beat them by the odd goal in five in the Lancashire Amateur Cup First Round.

Hargreaves, from the Matthew Montgomery & Co First Division, gave a fright to Langho at Redvales before succumbing by the odd goal in seven.

FC Bury Town did the league proud, though eventually beaten 4-2 by L&C big guns Whalley Range, while White Lion were beaten comfortably at Tottington.

F&W are now the league’s sole representatives in the second round as they squeezed past AFC Dobbies on penalties at Whittles Park.

After a goalless first half, Martin Nuttall shuffled his pack and used all three substitutes but to no avail it seemed as Dobbies took the lead just after the hour mark when Fothergills failed to clear a set piece and the loose ball was knocked in from inside the six yard box. Cue a relentless final period, with the local side throwing everything at their resolute visitors, and just when they appeared to be running out of time a ball in from the left was turned in by Nick Holbrook to take the tie to penalties.

It was advantage Dobbies when Sean Doyle missed Fothergill's third kick but the visitors then contrived to miss two of their next three and it’s Fothergill's who travel to Burnley Belvedere in a fortnight’s time.

Closer to home Oldham Boro maintained their bright start to their first season in the league with a 4-2 home win over Rochdale Sacred Heart thanks to a hat trick from Matthew Wilson, alongside the first goal from Justin Adam.

The top division’s remaining two games were both decided by a single goal: Andrew Foster earning Whitworth Valley all three points at Walsden, and the shock result of the day courtesy of Ahmed Maqsood, whose goal gave bottom club Star Athletic a 1-0 win over fancied Woodbank at Hopwood Hall.

Balderstone 2nds continue to lead the way in the first division but the pack are closing and it was a rather unconvincing home win over newcomers Mighty Dragons at Springhill, with goals from Sands (2) and Warburton.

F&W 2nds are now second, and with the third and final surviving unblemished record, as Andrew White went nap for the second time in four games and David Collins added a hat trick of his own against Rochdale Galaxy.

A young Sudden side are looking ominous in third place too as hat tricks from McKenzie and Kean put paid to Chadderton Park at Matthew Moss.

Rochdale Asia leapfrogged Whitworth Valley 2nds with a hard fought 2-1 win at Rawstron Street, Mohammed Zaman and Tanveer Aslam their scorers.

Luke Hibbert earned bottom club F&W Rovers their first points of the season with a hat trick in a 4-2 home win over Wardle OB.

This Saturday’s top game is undoubtedly at Oasis Academy as undefeated Oldham Boro host leaders FC Bury Town in the top division – kick off 2pm.