Rochdale Online Alliance Football League Report

Rochdale Online Alliance Football League

Only three games in the Rochdale Online Alliance Football League survived the almost biblical weather last Saturday, thanks to modern technology, and its absolute antithesis.

The three games played saw the cup holders and last season’s beaten finalists both exit.

A fourth game did start, however, Horse & Farrier and F&W Rovers have to do it all over again as their game was abandoned part way through the second half.

If you are going to fail in your ambition then to see a family member succeed in your place is consolation to some degree, depending, of course, on your family dynamic. So, Fothergill & Whittles Seconds disappointment at failing to progress beyond the first round in defence of their trophy will surely be tempered by the fact that it was their own first team that prised their grip off the trophy.

With Whittles Park waterlogged the tie was switched to Greenvale and a tight encounter was eventually settled in favour of the senior side by four goals to two. In a story full of ironies, the most telling was Andy White’s hat trick as it was his prodigious goalscoring feats for the Seconds last season that propelled them to their league and cup double.

His hat trick this time saw the first team through to a quarter final tie away at Walsden or White Lion. Johnson added the fourth. Chris Holbrook and Hudson replying for the Seconds.

In form Walsden comfortably saw off Falcon Seconds in the first of two preliminary round ties, to set up an intriguing clash with White Lion, courtesy of goals from Sutcliffe, Barnes, Stevens and Hanson. Their attention now reverts to the Premier Division title chase as they host close rivals Woodbank this weekend at Kingsway Sports Centre.

For forty five minutes last season’s beaten finalists Sudden seemed in full control of their difficult looking tie with Division One champions elect Mighty Dragons. 

Playing controlled and purposeful football, early goals from Fitz McKenzie and Danny Holmes were a true reflection of their dominance as their Hollinwood based opponents struggled to overcome poor preparation for such an important game. Late cry offs meant they had a bare eleven players, and just ten for the opening fifteen minutes.

Sudden certainly seemed in the mood to make them pay with goalscorer Holmes the catalyst for the home side’s territorial dominance.

Nevertheless, Dragons had created, but wasted, more than one decent opportunity before Wilds pulled a goal back for them, only for Holmes to almost immediately restore Sudden’s two goal advantage with a goal memorable for its quickness of thought and simplicity of execution. Controlling a loose ball just outside the area, and seeing the Dragons’ keeper off his line, Holmes simply passed the ball wide of Attwood into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As the wind abated, and the rains came, home spectators were disappearing almost as fast as their side’s upper hand, as Dragons finally began to show exactly why they have an unblemished league record to date.

With Holmes playing in a more advanced role Sudden were still a force going forward, but suddenly the balance of power was changing in the middle of the pitch and Dragons were enjoying greater possession in their attacking third.

Crucially, second balls were falling to Dragons players in that last third and a 3-1 deficit was turned into 5-3 lead inside twenty minutes through goals from Cahill, Gibson, Bailey and Costin.

A total breakdown in communication allowed Lewis to reduce the deficit inside the last five minutes but it was too little too late for Sudden and Dragons now have a home quarter final tie with Falcon to look forward to in April.

More cup action this Saturday, weather permitting, as Fothergill & Whittles Seconds face Hargreaves in the first A&M Memorial Trophy semi-final at Firgrove.

A point at home against Wardle OB will secure the Matthew Montgomery & Co Division One title for Mighty Dragons with three games to play.