Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

With the weather once again saving its worst for the weekend the most significant events in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League took place off the field, as opposed to on it, with the mid season resignations of two clubs, Woodbank FC and FW Rovers FC.

White Lion made the longest journey in the Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division only to find Woodbank’s home pitch at Nuttall Park not marked out by the groundsman. The subsequent internal fall out led to the immediate resignation of the Woodbank manager and the decision to fold the side with immediate effect.

Ironically, White Lion, along with Falcon, gained the most from Woodbank’s sad demise as their early season league defeat to them has now been expunged from the records. Hence, leaders Rochdale Sacred Heart’s 3-1 home win over Chadderton Park proved worthless in real terms as both their nearest challengers narrowed the gap at the top without kicking a ball, and it was even worse news for their opposition as Paul Parkes’ side saw the only points they had gained all season also disappear alongside Woodbank’s playing record.

All of which leaves Rochdale Sacred Heart four points ahead of their nearest challengers, White Lion, who have two games in hand, and Falcon, who have one, as Fothergill & Whittles dropped two crucial league points after switching their home game from a waterlogged Whittles Park to the more open plains of Firgrove. Sudden are dangerous opposition in spite of their parlous league position when they field a fullish strength side, and so it proved as they shared six goals with the title chasers and reminded everyone of their potential to inflict further damage on those teams with eyes on silverware come May.

Falcon’s own title credentials were thoroughly undermined by FC Littleborough in the local derby at Littleborough High School. Falcon started brightly and led twice but, just like their pitch, they got progressively worse as the game developed, and moments of ill discipline resulted in a needlessly conceded penalty and being reduced to ten men, which could have easily have been nine later, saw them slide to an ultimately comprehensive 7-2 defeat.

Fothergill & Whittles have been struggling to field three teams on the same afternoon all season and recent failed fixtures left their committee with no option but to withdraw their third team from the Matthew Montgomery & Co First Division. Their loss is a sad reflection of the difficulties facing local amateur football clubs in the current age of changing shift patterns and alternative sports and entertainment as well as a stark reminder that the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League itself faces an uncertain future beyond the current season.

Their withdrawal has no impact at the top of the table but, to add insult to injury, the only team at the wrong end of the table to lose three points are Chadderton Park Seconds, and this after celebrating taking a thoroughly unexpected point off title chasing Fothergill & Whittles Seconds following a 3-3 draw at Crossley Playing Fields.

That surprise result means leaders Rochdale Asia have now opened up a ten point gap at the top following their 6-3 away win at Horse & Farrier. As usual Damian McHale’s struggling side gave more than a good account of themselves only for three late goals to end their resistance and produce a final scoreline that was by no means a true reflection of the game.

The week’s big winners were Balderstone FC as a long awaited fourth league win of the season, 5-1 over fast fading Rochdale Galaxy, was a mere prelude to a comprehensive semi final win in the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy over Wardle OB at Firgrove.

Wardle had topped their group with four wins in four and a goal difference of plus fourteen, though the only league encounter between the two had resulted in a thumping home win for Balderstone. Hard to call and that was certainly the case during a goalless first half played out in difficult conditions. The game only went ahead following a late inspection, and on the only pitch playable at a very wet and windy Firgrove, and Wardle certainly had the better of the first half chances, the lively Johnny Dewhurst could have had a hat trick but his diving header against the foot of the post was the nearest either side came to opening their account.

As the conditions deteriorated further, and both assistant referees were silently cursing the referee's appointments secretary, it was Balderstone who opened the scoring through Matt Nokes on the hour mark, with Wardle appealing for a foul on a defender in the build up to the goal. Within five minutes they were back on level terms as a looping cross from the left hand side was caught in the wind and bundled home at the far post, but Balderstone quickly restored their advantage from close range following a scramble in the area.

The key moment duly arrived with thirteen minutes to play as a low ball across the Wardle area looked to be escaping the incoming Nokes as he had his heels clipped by Wardle right back Matt Bishop. A penalty and a red card for Bishop was the outcome and Nokes converted from the spot to make it 3-1.

Wardle continued to battle gamely, but the game had gone, and Nokes completed a well-deserved hat trick in the eighty seventh minute as a deflected cross in from the right served to wrong foot the covering defenders before landing right at Nokes’ feet ten yards in front of goal.

Full credit to both sides for the spirit in which the game was played from first whistle to last in truly abysmal conditions, and Nathan Agg’s side will face the winners of the second semi-final between Rochdale Asia and Fothergill & Whittles Seconds in the Alletson & Mitchell Memorial Trophy final scheduled for Good Friday, 25 March, at Fox Park, the home of Rochdale Sacred Heart, 11.00 am kick off.