Good Dale performance earns a point

Date published: 11 October 2009

Saturday 10th October 2009 Unibond League Division One North

Bamber Bridge 0 v 0 Rossendale United

Rossendale produced an excellent performance to come away from Irongate with a point, and with a little more sharpness in the box, could well have come away with all three points, as they made several good chances but contrived to miss them all.

With six ex Rossendale players in their squad and a seventh on the side lines it was a bit like old times, and Tom Brocklehurst in the Rossendale goal twice denied old boy Phil Eastwood as he closed in on goal ,but was unable to find a way past Brocklehurst.

Rossendale did not sit back and defend as perhaps was expected against a team in the higher echelons of the league, and Danny Thomas ,Fran Powell ,and Alex Leke all went close to opening the scoring. The Dale should have had a penalty for handball ,but despite vociferous shouts from behind the goal, the referee waved play on.

With half time only seconds away, Rossendale did get the ball in the net ,but Alex Leke’s goal was disallowed for hand ball, and ,whilst it did not look deliberate, he did gain an advantage, and the travelling fans were left to rue what might have been.

The second half began with Rossendale pushing forward, and once again chances were created ,but the final touch was missing and Jason Hart, Fran Powell, Andrew Charlesworth and Alex Leke all had opportunities, but failed to test the keeper.

It was not all one way traffic however, and Bamber Bridge always looked dangerous going forward ,but as with Rossendale ,their finishing was found lacking, and perhaps a scoreless draw was on the cards right from the kick off.



Rossendale Team

Tom Brocklehurst. Danny Thomas, Keith Wedge, Andrew Charlesworth, Tom Clarkson, Matt Walsh, Jason Hart, Tom Smith, Fran Powell, Alex Leke, Danny Ellis

Substitutes

Jack Brierley (for Leke), Alex Mallion (for Charlesworth), Sean Pearson (for Walsh), Adam Wagstaffe (not used), Andy Gayle (not used)

Attendance 237