Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The first midweek games of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League season saw five first round President’s Cup ties decided.

Division One outfit Wardle OB are the first team through to the semi final stage as a result of their 6-4 win over Fothergill & Whittles 2nds at Firgrove. A Chris Dewhurst hat trick, plus two goals from namesake Jonathan and one from Glen Howson, earned them a semi final tie against the winners of the Rochdale Sacred Heart versus Falcon quarter final.

Sacred Heart  overcame Chadderton Park 2nds with goals from Forshaw (3), Hogan and Oldroyd.

AConnor Girling hat trick was nothing more than a show of defiance from Horse & Farrier as Falcon ran in eight goals of their own from Kennedy-Greenwood (3), Winterbottom (2), Needham (2) and Hanna.

In the other half of the draw the picture is less clear, as White Lion’s thrilling 4-3 win over Fothergill & Whittles is subject to appeal. The eventual qualifiers will have to wait to see who they play as the Chadderton Park versus Rochdale Asia tie fell foul of the weather.

FC Littleborough are through to face Falcon 2nds after a 7-3 home win over Rochdale Galaxy, but if ever a scoreline did not paint a true reflection of a game then this was it.

Littleborough led early on through Adams, but try as they might they just could not get their usual passing game going at all. This gave Galaxy time to settle, and the chance to bring late arriving key players on off the bench, before any real damage had been done.

Gradually they settled into the game, forcing an equaliser before the break and squandering three clear one on one chances against Littleborough keeper, and undoubted man of the match, Duncan Whitelaw.

The second half followed the same pattern with Littleborough back ahead through Bentley as Galaxy unbelievably wasted another three one on ones.

With the game entering its final ten minutes a rash challenge gave Galaxy a penalty, but this too was wasted as the spot kick came back off the post only to be fired home from the edge of the box by Rigby as the Littleborough defence failed to react.

Consequently, extra time ensued and Galaxy maintained the symmetry with three more wasted gilt edged opportunities as Littleborough finally found their range - a Honeyman hat trick, plus further goals from Adams and Bentley, sending them through.

Though no league fixtures were scheduled, Walsden’s demise has had a significant effect at the top of the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division Table. Realistically it is now a three horse race that currently stands at:

Rochdale Sacred Heart: Played 10 Points 22
FC Littleborough: Played 10 Points 21
White Lion: Played 6 Points 15

Remaining Fixtures :

Rochdale Sacred Heart Fothergill & Whittles (A) Sudden (A)
FC Littleborough Fothergill & Whittles (A) White Lion (A)
White Lion Fothergill & Whittles (H&A) FC Littleborough (H)
Falcon (H) Chadderton Park (A) Sudden (A)

Clearly, the White Lion versus FC Littleborough clash on Wednesday 27 April is of vital importance, but Nick Sunderland’s rejuvenated Fothergill outfit may well decide just who ends as Premier Division Champions come May.