Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

The first round of the group based cup matches were played last Saturday and for Balderstone, Rochdale Asia and Falcon 2nds in particular qualification for the round of the last four must now seem light years away.

Andrew White has made a relatively inconspicuous start to the season in comparison with last term, but he was back to his best with four goals as Fothergill & Whittles demolished Balderstone at Springhill. Ryan Healey also claimed four as Nick Sunderland’s men drew inspiration for this weekend’s daunting County Cup visit to Whalley Range, but for Nathan Agg it proved an afternoon to forget.

Inheriting a first team bereft of money, resources and players Nathan has worked ceaselessly in conjunction with the club’s committee to keep last season’s champions afloat and it is hoped that Saturday’s setback can be put behind them at the earliest opportunity.

A home league game against another side licking cup wounds, Rochdale Asia, may be the opportunity to do so but any side with a front two of Michael Rushton and Umar Mahmood cannot be underestimated, and Sheraz Hussein is confident that his side can turn round a run of poor results sooner rather than later. They were well beaten though at Rochdale Sacred Heart, just a week after running the same opposition close in the league, as goals from Booth, Allan and two each from O”Donovan, Patel and Lyons extended Hearts’ good form into a new month.

Mark Horner’s early season confidence in his revamped White Lion side gained further credence as they dispatched Falcon at Bowlee, courtesy of Wolstenholme 2, Howe 2 and King, whilst the day’s most surprising result was arguably Woodbank’s home defeat to goals from Sutcliffe and Brown for Walsden C&FC.

In the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy Chadderton Park carried their league form with them to Littleborough Sports Centre as Eastwood 3, Grant 2, Cole, Jennings and Burgoyne made up the eight goals that struggling Falcon 2nds had no reply to.

The remaining three ties were much more competitive and Rochdale Galaxy continued their excellent early season form with a 2-2 draw at Whittles Park against Fothergill & Whittles 2nds. Teejay Rigby claimed both Galaxy’s goals with Collins and Jorgensen replying for the home side.

F&W Rovers battled hard at Goshen against Hargreaves before succumbing to goals from Finlow and Kay whilst Horse & Farrier came close to their first point(s) of the season against Wardle OB before finally losing out by the odd goal in five. McHale and Connolly were Farrier’s scorers with McCann, Jones and Dewhurst on the mark for Wardle.