Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

A weekend of cup action in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League saw The Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy finalists and The Chairman’s Cup semi finalists decided, as well as seven eighths of The President’s Cup quarter final draw clarified.

Rochdale Galaxy recovered from a surprise defeat at Horse & Farrier seven days previously to record a comfortable semi-final victory over Chadderton Park at Firgrove and book their place in the May final of The A&M Memorial Trophy against Fothergill & Whittles Seconds.

Chadderton had recorded a 1-0 away victory at Galaxy in early March but this time goals from Rigby (2), Fenton and Flitcroft saw Sabar Ansari’s side safely through to their first cup final in only their second season in the league.

Sudden required a point from their rearranged final Chairman’s Cup group game against Falcon to secure top spot in Group A, and looked to have achieved their objective with a 4-0 half time lead thanks to two goals each from Lawlor and McKenzie.

Falcon pulled a goal back early in the second half, but still trailed by three with just twenty five minutes remaining. Sudden then had a player dismissed for handling the ball on the goal line and Liam Jackson reduced the arrears from the spot, signaling a quite unbelievable turn round as Falcon scored three more goals inside four minutes to lead for the first time. Although McKenzie completed his hat trick worse was to follow for an under strength Sudden side as Falcon added four more goals in the final ten minutes to complete an astonishing victory. Scott Alfrey (3), Liam Jackson (2), Kyle Jackson, Bostock, Shamim and Newall their goalscorers.

Falcon’s win means Walsden top Group A and will play Rochdale Asia in one semi final, whilst Group B winners Fothergill & Whittles will face Sudden.

In the afternoon’s top President’s Cup tie Premier Division title chasers Walsden and White Lion met at Kingsway Sports Centre. The corresponding league fixture had been a tight affair, ending with the points shared, and this game could have gone either way, Walsden finally sealing victory with a Joe Gale goal in the final minute. Brierley, Sutcliffe and Josh Gale were Walsden’s other scorers, with King and Wolstenholme on the mark for White Lion.

Both Balderstone, 5-2 winners at Hargreaves, and F&W Rovers are safely through to the last eight, Rovers winning their replayed tie at Horse & Farrier after weather caused the abandonment of the original game. Fitton (2), Smith, Beninson and Duggan were their scorers in a 5-3 win. Brady, Matthews and Aqeel Ahmed replied for Farrier.

The day’s remaining fixture saw the much postponed Preliminary Round tie between Woodbank and Rochdale Asia finally completed at Nuttall Park.

Without a win in any competition since mid October, and with several key players missing through long term injury, Woodbank’s difficulties were compounded by two goals for Osama Alwarfali and one for the returning Michael Rushton as Asia won 3-0 to progress to a first round proper meeting this Saturday with Rochdale Galaxy.

The revised President’s Cup Quarter Final Draw is as follows:

• Mighty Dragons v Falcon
• Balderstone v Rochdale Sacred Heart
• F&W Rovers v Rochdale Asia or Rochdale Galaxy
• Walsden v Fothergill & Whittles

These games will be played in early May, with the final at Rochdale Town FC on Saturday 23 May, followed by the presentation of trophies to all of this season’s individual and team winners.