Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The torrential rain of recent days took its toll on the first Rochdale Online Alliance Football League fixture programme of 2014 as just four games survived the unseasonably mild but extremely wet conditions.

Two of those games in the Matterson Cranes First Division saw leaders Rochdale Asia extend their lead at the top to four points whilst one of their main challengers Hargreaves lost their unbeaten record in surprising fashion.

It has been a difficult period for Balderstone 2nds either side of the festivities as player unavailability resulted in failed fixtures that meant they just had to beat the leaders if they were to maintain their lingering hopes of silverware this season. In spite of a battling display, and goals from Chaplin and Sands, it was not to be as Rochdale Asia extended their impressive unbeaten run to seven games with a 5-2 win.

The new year bonus for them was the news that a Mark Sneyd hat trick had fired lowly Chadderton Park to only their third league win of the season, and ended the last unbeaten record in the league, as Hargreaves could only muster replies from Berry and Kay. The result leaves the Bury side twelve points short of second placed Sudden and now with only two games in hand.

Greenvale is the natural equivalent of 3G and it was as playable as ever as a Harris-Hudson hat trick led F&W Rovers to a 6-4 win over a young Syke side who have probably never experienced such an undulating afternoon in the course of their football careers to date. Lee (2) and Jorgensen made up F&Ws half dozen with two each for Coop and Crook in reply.

Just the one game in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division that saw a first away point of the season for Star Athletic following a 3-3 draw at Oldham Boro. The division’s bottom club fully deserved their point, and it was a much improved display from them after a difficult month of December. As ever both sides played open and attractive passing football on the synthetic surface and both had opportunities to take all three points in the closing stages of the game.

Just maybe the weather will relent before a weekend that sees King William IV’s trip to leaders FC Bury Town, and Sudden’s home game against Whitworth Valley 2nds, the picks of the respective divisions’ programmes.