Rochdale Online Alliance League round-up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The Rochdale Online Alliance Football league returned to action after the winter break and the Week 17 highlights saw our last County Cup representatives, Syke, beaten on penalties ; the last 100% league record ended ; Weavers 2nds return to the top of Division 1 and Fothergill and Whittles 2nds reach the summit of Division 2 in style.

In that quiet corner of Europe called Turton, Syke’s quest for county glory ended in the harshest of fashions – the dreaded penalty shoot as LAL title chasers Old Boltonians reached the last four after an almighty battle against the Premier Division new boys.

The home side enjoyed the majority of possession in the first period but failed to create any real chances of note with Edmonds and Braund defending superbly for Syke. A double save of the highest quality from Worswick also frustrated the home side and half time was reached without the deadlock having been broken.

The second half pattern was unchanged until the hour mark when Bolts took the lead with a bullet header from a set piece by centre back Edmondson. This now led to a period of sustained pressure from Bolts as they sought the second goal to seal the tie but, as they committed men forward, Syke hit them on the break and when Duffy could only parry a shot into the path of Bentley he was pulled down and the penalty was duly awarded. The same player picked himself and dispatched the spot kick to tie the game up once again with just under twenty minutes to play.

The closing phase of the game was played out almost exclusively in Syke’s half but they defended superbly to take the tie to penalties without allowing Bolts even the possibility of a match winning goal.

When Worswick saved Bolts first penalty and then metamorphosised to put Syke 1-0 up it was suddenly looking good for the local side but it then became a case of vice versa and deadlock once more.

Unfortunately, Bolts didn’t miss again and although returning skipper Traynor netted his kick his two team mates both failed to beat Duffy and so it was the LAL title chasers progressing to the last four.

All credit to all our sides who have represented the league so well this season and especially to Syke and to Weavers for reaching the last eight of this prestigious competition.

Castleton, runaway leaders of the Concept Filter Products Premier Division, came out all guns blazing against reigning champions Weavers at Matthew Moss and pegged them back for long periods of the first half as goals from McEvoy and Altimas gave them a two goal lead inside twenty minutes. Despite a goal back on twenty six minutes Castleton continued to dominate and were well worth their comfortable half time lead.
The second period was a different story however as it was Weavers turn to dominate and press Castleton back and two goals inside ninety seconds late on seemed certain to end the home side’s unbeaten record and give some hope to the chasing pack. However, Castleton weren’t finished and after creating several good late chances Jenkins finally levelled matters after eighty seven minutes to square up what referee Kevin Howson describes as “a good hard game played in a good spirit and a fair result!”

Elsewhere in the top division Wardle now find themselves second top, having been second bottom not so long ago, after a 5-2 away win at Rochdale Asia while a game of five cautions saw Fothergill & Whittles edge out Asia by the odd goal in three at Hopwood Hall. The one moment of real quality in the first half saw the visitors take the lead as a fine through ball from Doyle released Morton who hade made an intelligent run into space and finished with a powerfully struck shot into the roof of the Asia net. This spurred Asia into action and they forced a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time.

F&W began the second period as they had the first and dominated possession, though the home side looked capable of causing damage on the break, and it took seventy five minutes for the decisive goal to arrive –courtesy of F&W’s Platt’s fine finish at the far post.

Weavers 2nds returned to the top of the Matterson Cranes Division 1 with a 2-1 away victory over Sudden Carling at Matthew Moss. Indeed Weavers led 2-0 after just two minutes. Forshaw and Lythgoe the scorers. A case of how many became can we hang on as the game progressed and Sudden reduced the deficit only to be denied late on by two superb saves from Weavers’ keeper Stewart and a fine defensive performance from man of the match Grainger.

At Rutherford Park bottom of the table Wardle 2nds began well on a heavy pitch against visitors Waggon Athletic and eventually took the lead on the half hour mark through substitute O’Sullivan. Waggon began the second period in brighter fashion but the final ball betrayed the possession they enjoyed and Wardle squandered a golden chance to add a second in the fiftieth minute following a desperate mix up in the Waggon defence. Five minutes later it was 2-0 however as Greenwood was allowed far too much time and space to convert a long through ball but just three minutes later it was déjà vu as Waggon’s Brooks latched on to another long ball to hit the post and then convert the rebound. Chances were at a premium in the half hour remaining and the three points allowed Wardle to leapfrog Sacred Heart and join Waggon and Sudden Carling on ten points.

In this division’s only other game to survive the weather Prestwich Town secured a valuable 3-1 away victory in the Bury derby at Hargreaves to dent the home side’s promotion aspirations.

The last time Fothergill & Whittles 2nds were top of the league Cyril Barlow and Dave Brierley were in short trousers. However, top of the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division 2 they are this week and top in some style after thrashing fellow promotion chasers Jacks House 2nds 8-1 at Greenvale. Craw (2), P.McLoughlin (2), Collins, Law, Clark and J.McLoughlin were the scorers and with struggling Rochdale Asia 2nds next up, they slipped to a 1-5 home defeat to AFC Royton, F&W’s 2nd string will be looking to stay there at least until the return to cup action which may allow chasing teams to catch up games and points.

One of those chasing teams is local rivals Sun Hotel and they maintained the pressure on Fothergills with a comfortable 5-1 home win over bottom club Horse & Farrier courtesy of a hat trick from White and a Dunn double ; but they face a tricky game this weekend at Balderstone.