Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division leaders FC Bury Town recorded their seventh victory in nine league games with a comfortable 3-0 away win at Rochdale Sacred Heart to open up a five point lead over second placed Balderstone, who do have two games in hand. Pyrah 2 and Jebb scored the goals that extended Heart’s winless run to six games after a good start to the season in the top flight.

Two sides who have shown improved form of late shared the spoils at Walsden Rec as Cosgrave’s goal for visitors White Lion cancelled out Walsden’s opener from Gale.
King William IV have now moved home grounds to Littleborough Sports Centre and christened their first game there with a valuable home win over Oldham Boro that ended a run of three successive defeats for them. On a tight pitch, sodden from the heavy overnight rain, King William started strongly putting the young Oldham side under severe pressure and taking the lead through Alfrey after just seven minutes. Boro finally found their passing range to fashion an equaliser within three minutes only for Liam Jackson to restore the home side’s lead with an exquisite finish from the edge of the area in the fourteenth minute. King William continued to dominate but defensive frailties have undermined their good start and an outplayed Oldham side were in front by the half time whistle with two goals on the counter attack.

The second period was more even, with Yates in the home goal producing a stunning save to keep his side level following Walters equaliser in the fifty fifth minute.

Boro then conceded a needless penalty but Liam Jackson fired over from the spot and it was left to Kyle Jackson to settle matters late on. A clearance from the Boro centre back was volleyed back towards goal from the half way line and Jackson ran onto it to slide the ball past the keeper from just inside the box. Clever play from Jackson, who spent the afternoon testing the Boro official with the flag by “living” on the shoulder of the last defender, and he deserved the goal that proved the difference between the sides.

For King William a vital win that moves them back to fifth, whilst a young Oldham side tasted defeat for only the second time, but can take considerable consolation from their tenacious display in conditions that tested their resolve and team spirit to the limit.

Only two games in the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 saw Syke record their first points of the season, with a 4-1 away win at Rochdale Galaxy, and Sudden extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with a thumping nine goal away win at Wardle OB.

The three remaining games were in the second round of The President’s Cup as Balderstone 2nds and two Fothergills sides progressed to the round that sees the advent of the Premier Division sides.

Hargreaves are unbeaten in the league to date, but they were outplayed by Balderstone 2nds on the 3G surface at Kingsway Sports Centre, as goals from Haywood 2, Sands 2, Chaplin and Atkinson earned the home side a third round tie away at Walsden.

Another Andrew White hat trick saw F&W 2nds through to a home tie with Star Athletic after overcoming a spirited Chadderton Park side at Whittles Park ; Johnson 2 and Culshaw making up the total, whilst F&W Rovers recorded the surprise result of the round with a 3-1 home win over Rochdale Asia with goals from Whitehead 2 and Kibble.

The result saw the home side gain ample revenge for a heavy opening day defeat against the same opposition, but curiously means they cannot now defend the A&M Memorial Trophy they won last season ; instead they find themselves having to face Balderstone in the next round of The President’s Cup on a 3G surface just about as far removed from the pastures of Greenvale as can be.

With the leaders of both divisions out of action through free dates this weekend Balderstone can close the gap on FC Bury Town with an away game at bottom club Star Athletic, whilst F&W 2nds can do the same to Sudden with a home game against struggling Wardle OB.

Elsewhere, Syke have the chance to double their points tally with a second game in a week against Rochdale Galaxy, whilst Oldham Boro will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways with a home game against Woodbank at Oasis Academy.