Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Long term Premier Division leaders Rochdale Sacred Heart suffered only their second league defeat of the season as FC Littleborough’s 3-1 win enabled them to cut Heart’s lead at the top to just a single point with four games to play.

The game as a spectacle was hampered by strong wind and a sticky surface and both sides struggled to attain any measure of assertiveness over proceedings, not helped by the fact that both were under strength on the day.

Littleborough led by the only goal of the first half, scored by Chris Holbrook, and with the advantage of the elements were confident of extending that lead in the second half.

Hearts equalised through Reece Holt and the remainder of the game was evenly contested; both sides had chances but it was Littleborough who won with two late goals from Andy Law and Justin Adams.

The main beneficiaries are White Lion, who remain just four points behind Hearts, and three behind Littleborough, with three games in hand.

Elsewhere, a second league win for Chadderton Park, 3-1 at Walsden with goals from Fulham (2) and Burgoyne, and a 6-4 win for Falcon over Sudden, Simic (2), Tom Culshaw (2), Luke Culshaw and Halliday earning them a first win in five.

In Division One Hargreaves’ promotion hopes were stalled by a 2-2 home draw against unpredictable Rochdale Galaxy, and they are now four points behind second placed Fothergill & Whittles 2nds with two games in hand, Galbraith and Allen with the Bury based outfit’s goals.

Wardle OB moved into third place with a narrow 3-2 home win over a rejuvenated Horse & Farrier side, David McLoughlin, Jonathan Dewhurst and Daniel Holland scored for Wardle, with Damien McHale and Connor Girling replying for a much improved Farrier side.

In the day’s remaining fixture a Connor Jamieson hat trick was enough to earn Falcon 2nds all three points at Chadderton Park 2nds - 5-3 the final score.

Saturday sees the Premier Division top three all on the road as Rochdale Sacred Heart face Walsden, FC Littleborough are at Sudden and White Lion go to Falcon.

In Division One Rochdale Asia require eight points from five games to clinch the title, and will be looking for the first three of those points from a home game against Falcon 2nds.