Rochdale Online Alliance League round up

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Match day 13 proved unlucky for Rochdale Online Alliance Premier Division leaders Weavers as they slipped to their first defeat of the season in a close fought encounter at FC Bury Town. Consolation no doubt came with the news that their closest rivals Wardle had also dropped as a Darren Smith hat trick was only enough to earn a point at Fothergill & Whittles.

In the Matterson Cranes First Division leaders Wardle 2nds home game fell victim to the rain but closest rivals Fothergill & Whittles 2nds could only draw at Hargreaves and Weavers 2nds needed an additional time equaliser at Firgrove to rescue a point from in form Rochdale Asia.

Leaders of the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division Two Bridge were also beaten – 5-3 at AFC Royton ; a win that takes the New Barn based outfit to the top of the table whilst Moorcock moved past Bridge into second place thanks to an away win at Jacks House 2nds.

At a wet and windy Firgrove Rochdale Asia began much more brightly than an understrength Weavers side with just a bare eleven and it was no surprise when their enterprising football took them into a 18th minute lead through Khalique. Looking much more purposeful, and full of attacking intent, Rochdale Asia had chances to add to the lead but the final touch wasn’t quite there and Weavers finally began to gain a foothold into the game resulting in a well taken equaliser by Forshaw as he played a neat one-two to defeat the Rochdale Asia offside trap and net a smart equaliser on 38 minutes.

As the overhead conditions abated the second half developed into a real cut and thrust affair and Rochdale Asia were back in front from the penalty spot when a header was handled inside the Weavers area. Within a minute it was 3-1 with a spectacular diving header from Khalique and Weavers were really on the back foot. With players called into the side struggling for fitness and Shepherd off the field with injury for some time there seemed no way back for Weavers until a quite remarkable final fifteen minutes.

A fast break down the left hand side saw Rochdale Asia make it 4-1 with the Weavers players claiming the Asia linesman had flagged momentarily for the ball going out of play. To his immense credit, and to the appreciation of the Weavers players,he confirmed this and the goal was chalked off. If such sportsmanship needs material reward then it seemed to come when Weavers missed from the penalty spot with just eight minutes remaining after an Asia defender had blocked a goalbound shot with his arm.

It then most certainly should have been game over as Rochdale Asia broke three on one down the left hand side and when the wide player drew the defender and played in his team mate a goal seemed certain. However, a poor touch allowed the ball to roll to his now offside team mate who couldn’t resist getting involved and the chance was squandered.

Within a minute Weavers had gained hope where none seemed to exist when the Asia keeper, who had had an excellent game, spilled a routine cross into his own net and as so often happens it was 3-3 in the final minute of time added on as Forshaw found time and space to curl a superb equaliser into the top left hand corner from twenty yards.

In truth this was a game Rochdale Asia should have won and deserved to win but credit to Weavers who never gave up and showed much better self discipline, and knowledge of the rules of the game, on the day.

In this division’s only other game to defy the weather Jimmy Kershaw’s four goals were more than enough to overcome Waggon at Springhill where, somewhat curiously, Rochdale Sacred Heart’s other two goals came from Tony Kershaw.

Hard working volunteers managed to produce a playing surface fit enough to pass even the most stringent of pitch inspections at midday by Cyril Barlow though the continuing rain into the afternoon made for difficult playing conditions at Whittles Park.

Nevertheless, credit both Fothergill & Whittles and Wardle for producing an exciting contest that ebbed and flowed until the very last kick of the game.
The home side forced a series of early corners only to realise that Scowcroft was in top form in the Wardle goal and it took a finish of real quality from Lord to open the scoring. Wood made it two soon afterwards and with Fothergills in control Wardle’s hopes of keeping in touch with the leaders looked as forlorn as the weather. With Morton and Holbrook controlling midfield and the F&W back four well led by the impressive Doyle it was going to take something special to get Wardle back into the game and it came from Smith on the stroke of half time with an acrobatic overhead kick from inside the area.

The goal gave Wardle renewed confidence and they enjoyed their best spell of the match in the early stages of the second half and, as conditions underfoot worsened, Doyle’s slip let in Smith for his, and Wardle’s, second of the afternoon.
Scowcroft denied Holbrook but as the game entered its final moments Holbrook finally got the better of the Wardle keeper to seemingly earn his side all three points. With referee Trevor Mayne looking at his watch a long ball down the middle was headed away by Johnston to seemingly repel the final danger, only for the ball to be played back into the box and in the ensuing melee it was that man Smith on hand to complete his hat trick and deny F&W all three points.
Credit to all players on show, and referee Mayne, for the unwavering effort shown in more than difficult conditions.

With Wardle 3rds defeating Woodbank and Sudden Carling’s home win over Fothergill & Whittles 3rds the top five teams in Division 2 appear to be breaking away from the rest of the division. Atkinson 2, Jackson, King and Wild scored the goals that take AFC Royton to the top of the table though all the sides below them,excepting Moorcock, have games in hand, and with Royton not in action this weekend all four have the opportunity to make up ground as the top half take on the bottom half in all four games.