Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Two significant results in a curtailed Rochdale Online Alliance Football League programme saw Balderstone close to within a point of leaders FC Bury Town with a 1-0 away win at Whitworth Valley, while Division One leaders Sudden dumped their Premier Division opponents King William IV out of The President’s Cup.

Balderstone and Valley have emerged from the first half of a very competitive season as Bury’s main rivals for the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division title vacated by Wardle’s progression into the LAL.

A home win would have seen Valley close to within five points of Balderstone with three games in hand but their home form deserted them on the day and a single goal from Butterworth saw Balderstone move menacingly close to the leaders with a home game against them to come in mid January.

In the past two seasons, Star Athletic’s fortunes have taken a considerable turn for the better in the New Year but even that may not be enough for Saeed Ahmed’s team this time round. A single goal home win over Woodbank back in September remains the only points they have gleaned from thirteen fixtures following their five goal home defeat to mid table White Lion whose scorers were Monks (2), Lord, Cass and Wardle.

Lion’s win keeps them above Walsden who recorded a 4-2 home win over Rochdale Sacred Heart with goals from Goldsmith, Hanson, Rooks and Brown.

With Littleborough Sports Centre once again unfit King William IV sportingly agreed to concede home advantage and take their President’s Cup hopes to Matthew Moss, where they were promptly ended by Division One leaders Sudden by three goals to two after an well contested encounter.

The win sends Sudden to Fothergill & Whittles in the quarter final while King William need to pick themselves up and resume their faltering challenge for the league title.

In the Matterson Cranes First Division, Rochdale Asia moved into second place with a routine victory over struggling Horse & Farrier at Firgrove.

Honours were even in the division’s remaining two games; Andy Smith earning a point for Wardle OB against Syke and Whitworth Valley 2nds conceding more valuable league points after a goalless encounter at Crossley against lowly Chadderton Park.