Unibond league Division One North - Clitheroe 2 v 1 Rossendale United

Date published: 22 February 2010

Saturday 20th February 2010
Unibond league Division One North
Clitheroe 2 v 1 Rossendale United

It is and often used saying that football is a game of two halves but Rossendale’s game at Clitheroe proved that this statement is more than apt as for the first forty five minutes Rossendale produced one of their worst performances of the season and then after the break turned the tide and had Clitheroe hanging on desperately to claim the points.

With only four minutes on the clock Alan Coar was given an easy header from a corner to put Clitheroe in front and then former Rossendale man Zak Clarke was allowed to run at the defence to put the ball past Tom Brocklehurst and put Clitheroe two goals to the good.

Rossendale did try to fight back but were reduced to a couple of long rage efforts one of which produced a good save from the Clitheroe keeper. Whether if was something in the half time brew or words from manager John Hughes or a couple of substitutions made at half time Rossendale took the game to Clitheroe in the second half and created a host of chances and with Sam Heap combining well with Danny Ellis they always looked like they could get something out of the match.

The Dale pulled a goal back when a foul on the edge of the box led to a free kick and Leonard Rico-Richards effort took a deflection and wrong footed the Clitheroe keeper and Rossendale began to realise that it was possible to get something out of the game.

With Heap, Ellis and Owens creating chances it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser came but lack of sharpness in the box and good keeping kept them at bay and Clitheroe were left to run the clock down with time delaying tactics and managed to hang on to claim the points.

Rossendale Team
Tom Brocklehurst, Nicholas Swaird, Keith Wedge, Jack Higgins, Tom Clarkson, Harry Bockarie, David Owens, Leonard Rico-Richards, Sam Heap, Andre Williams,
Shaun Williams

Substitutes
Andrew Charlesworth (for Clarkson), Jason Hart (not used), Matt Walsh (not used), Danny Ellis (for Williams A.), Tom Smith (for Wedge)

Attendance 300