Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Week nine of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League saw first host second in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division and a treble from Andy Holt powered the leaders Woodbank to an emphatic 5-1 victory over Rochdale Sacred Heart at Nuttall Park.

Having been the first team to take points off Fothergill & Whittles last weekend, Hearts knew they needed a result to keep Woodbank in sight but, in spite of a determined team effort, they were second best on the day and already it appears only Fothergill can stop Woodbank from their first ever title success.

Havens and Fletcher completed the scoring for Woodbank with Booth replying for Hearts.

Fothergill bounced back from the loss of two valuable league points the previous week with an important win at Littleborough Sports Centre over Falcon; White 2, Platt and Greenwood claimed the goals that moved Nick Sunderland’s team back into second place. Their home game with Woodbank on the 8 November assumes even greater significance.

Walsden and White Lion met for the second time in a week and a Romano Campbell goal earned Lion a point; the game played at Firgrove as Walsden are currently homeless, a situation they hope to resolve before their next home game on the 22 November.

The early indications are that the Matthew Montgomery & Co First Division will also unfold into a two horse title race with another Fothergill side, the 2nds, in the mix with current leaders Mighty Dragons, who enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 home win over F&W Rovers.

The 2nds did not have it their own way last Saturday as a well organised and determined Wardle Old Boys scored early and, for the best part of an hour, looked like they were capable of holding on to their lead secured by Rob Jones.

Their resistance was finally broken when Matthew Fitton steered a cute header inside the near post from twelve yards, but Wardle still had a point in hand and despite increasing Fothergill pressure looked as though they were going to keep it as they defended intelligently and resolutely to resist their highly rated opponents.

Eventually the pressure told as Harriss-Hudson was tripped in the box and Jorgensen converted the penalty with just six minutes left on the referee’s watch.

In truth, Wardle had needed a second goal to protect that early lead and Fothergill had time to earn and squander a second penalty award before the final whistle.

Whilst Fothergill undoubtedly suffered from player unavailability, Wardle were almost unrecognisable from the team that struggled to overcome Falcon 2nds the week before, and with man of the match Wayne Brophy dominating the midfield battle they looked like a side well capable of picking up plenty more points between now and next May.

As do Chadderton Park, with a 2-0 home win over Falcon 2nds with goals from Eastwood and Cole, and Hargreaves, who surprised Rochdale Galaxy at Firgrove; Eardley, Wilcock, Cowan and Allen securing a 4-3 win over the third placed side.

This Saturday sees the second round of fixtures in both cup competitions with all clubs and match officials reminded that the cups are being contested on a league basis this season, so there is no extra time or penalties after ninety minutes.