Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Week seven of the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League saw Sartori Sharpening Services Premier Division leaders Woodbank extend their lead at the top to four points with a comfortable 4-0 away win at Littleborough Sports Centre against Falcon whilst second placed Rochdale Sacred Heart were well beaten by White Lion.

Woodbank’s win completes an early season league double over a Falcon side that has now lost three successive games after a good September.

Rochdale Sacred Heart now face pre-season title favourites Fothergill & Whittles on the back of their thrashing at Bowlee. A James Matthews hat trick plus goals for Howe (2), Whittaker, King and Alan Cass underlined the potential of Mark Horner’s young side as they preserved the third unbeaten record to date in the top division.

Elsewhere, Walsden C&FC moved above Sudden with a 3-0 win at Matthew Moss courtesy of goals from Brierley, Brown and Dunne.

Balderstone remain pointless at the foot of the table following a 5-1 home reverse to Rochdale Asia crafted by a Michael Rushton hat trick and goals for Omar Malik and Sufyan Khan.

In the Matthew Montgomery & Co First Division both Mighty Dragons and Fothergill & Whittles 2nds maintained their unblemished records ahead of their much anticipated coming together on 15 November at Whittles Park, but not without more than a scare or three last Saturday.

Chadderton Park have made an excellent start to the season and they pushed Dragons all the way before succumbing to a single goal late on at Hollinwood CC.

A neighbourly affair at Greenvale was settled eventually in favour of F&W 2nds with goals for Law (2), Hudson, Morton and Howarth. They were made to work hard for the win with Hibbert and Beninson on the score sheet for F&W Rovers.

Lee Carey’s brace gave Hargreaves a first league win of the season at Redvales against Falcon 2nds.

Wardle OB edged a tight game at Firgrove between two improving sides as Dewhurst and McLoughlin scored the goals that edged out a Rochdale Galaxy side that could only manage a Flitcroft strike in response.

Meanwhile, the league’s last representative went out of the LFA Amateur Cup as Fothergill & Whittles gave a good account of themselves at Kings Road against L&C League leaders Whalley Range. Down by just a single goal at the interval, Nick Sunderland’s side contributed to an open game full of excellent football before late goals gave their higher level opponents a 6-2 victory.