Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

A significant weekend in the ROAFL saw the finalists of both cup competitions decided and Balderstone take a significant step towards regaining the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division title.

The President’s Cup final will be an all first division affair after Sudden emulated their final opponents, Fothergill & Whittles 2nds, by overcoming Premier Division opposition in title chasing Whitworth Valley.

With eight successive league and cup wins behind them Valley led 2-0 at half time through goals from Pilling and Marshall, but the interval withdrawal of Clegg from the Valley midfield appeared to upset their equilibrium, and a determined Sudden side levelled matters inside ninety minutes, and then secured an extra time winner to add Valley to the list of higher level opponents they have dispatched on their way to the final.

The Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy semi final was a more clear cut affair as Mighty Dragons tore the league form book to pieces with an emphatic 5-1 win over Hargreaves, built upon the prolific Mike Cahill’s four goals. Hamlett added a fifth to take Dragons through to a cup final appearance in their first season in the league.

The President’s Cup Final, Fothergill & Whittles 2nds v Sudden, will take place at Rochdale Town FC on Saturday 10th May with a 2pm kick off, whilst the A&M Memorial Trophy Final will also take place at Rochdale Town FC on Friday 16th May with a 7pm kick off. Admission to both finals will be £2 payable on the gate, concessions £1, and a full preview of both finals will be online forty eight hours prior to each game.

In the Premier Division a season long dogfight could either be resolved by a three way play off for the title, or have a much more straightforward outcome if Balderstone win their final game after their crucial 3-1 away win at Fothergill & Whittles.

Fothergills have been in excellent form of late but Balderstone emulated Whitworth Valley’s victory at Whittles Park three days earlier as goals from Bennett 2 and Kelly earned them a win that means simply this – beat King William IV in their final game and Balderstone are champions!

Elsewhere, Rochdale Asia secured third place in the Matthew Montgomery & Co First Division with comprehensive victories over Wardle OB and Hargreaves, while Sudden ensured F&W 2nds still require three points to clinch the title with a 3-2 midweek win over Whitworth Valley 2nds at Matthew Moss.

A Damian McHale hat trick was not enough to earn a gallant Horse & Farrier side their first league win of the season as they lost out by the odd goal in seven to Chadderton Park, and then, to compound their misery, Syke’s resignation from the league deprives them of one of the two league points they have gleaned this season!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!