Rossie lose again - despite playing well

Date published: 15 November 2009

Saturday 14th November 2009 Unibond League Division One North

Rossendale United 1 v 2 Mossley
With the pitch saturated by a torrential downpour an hour before the match it was doubtful if the game should have been played at all but despite the standing water the referee gave the go ahead and the game proceeded on schedule.

Rossendale were without the suspended Tom Brocklehurst and Tom Clarkson and gave a debut to on loan signing from Morecambe, Ben Jackson. Six minutes into the game Mossley were awarded a penalty when Settle went down rather easily in the box under Barkers challenge and Steve Moore stepped up to drive the ball straight down the middle and put Mossley into the lead.

Rossendale fought back and were level in the 20th minute when Josh Mitton got in front of Mossley keeper Collinge at the near post and turned Barker’s cross from the right wing into the net.

With conditions getting worse by the minute it was proving very difficult to get the ball down and play but both sides tried to play a passing game but it was proving very difficult to do so. With man of the match Jason Hart causing the Mossley defence problems with his pace it looked more likely that Rossendale would take the points and Tom Smith was denied a great chance when he was about to get on the end of Hart cross but the ball stopped in the, by now what was mud, and the chance was lost.

In the 69th minute Rossendale were caught pushing forward and a quick break saw Mossley score what turned out to be the winning goal when Bobby Harris made a great save from a initial shot by Allen but Matty Kay reacted quickly to force the rebound home.

Rossendale almost snatched a dramatic equaliser close to the end when Danny Ellis outpaced the Mossley defence and lobbed the ball over the advancing Collinge only to see the ball roll agonisingly wide of the post.



Rossendale Team

Bobby Harris, Danny Thomas, Danny Ellis, Chris Lawton, Harry Bockarie, Ben Jackson, Shaun Williams, Tom Smith, Josh Mitton, Jason Hart, Ian Barker

Substitutes

Alex Leke (for Mitton), Adam Wagstaffe (not used), Craig Fleury (for Bockarie), Simon Nangle (for Jackson), bDemaine Cousins (not used)

Attendance 138