Rossie's chances blown away

Date published: 23 November 2009

Saturday 21st November 2009 Unibond League Division One North

Garforth Town 2 v 1 Rossendale United

A gale force wind blowing from end to end made playing conditions very difficult but strangely it was the team playing into the wind that had the better of the exchanges in each half.

Rossendale started against the wind and took the lead in the 14th minute when a surging run and cross from the right was cleverly stepped over by Jason Hart and Shaun Williams following up scored with a neat side foot shot into the corner of the net.

Rossendale should have gone further into the lead when a surging run from the back by Harry Bockarie freed Hart on the left and his pin point cross was headed wide by Ian Barker when it looked certain he would score.

It speaks well of the conditions when Garforths best chance came when a clearance by goalkeeper Ellison had Rossendale debut keeper Dale Newberry scrambling to push the ball over the bar.

The Rossendale defence was coping well with the conditions but on the stroke of half time a cross from the left found Tom Greaves at the far post and his header made sure that the half time score was level.

It appeared that with the wind at their back Rossendale were favourites to win the game but they failed to capitalise on the conditions and the lively Garforth forwards were always dangerous on the break and Newberry had to be on his toes more than once to sweep up the quick breaks and his efforts earned him the man of the match award.

Garforth took the lead seven minutes into the second half when Nathan Kamara was left unmarked in the box and he made no mistake in heading home a cross from the left.

Rossendale piled forward towards the end looking for an equaliser and Bee Ami and Josh Mitton both came close but as in the first half the defending team appeared to cope better with the conditions and Rossendale were again left pointless and wondering what might have been.



Rossendale Team

Dale Newberry, Bee Ami, Keith Wedge, Chris Lawton, Harry Bockarie, Craig Fleury, Shaun Williams, Ian Barker, Josh Mitton, Jason Hart, Danny Ellis

Substitutes

Tom Smith (for Ellis), Alex Leke (not used), Tom Williams (for Hart), Simon Nangle (for Fleury), Alex Mallion (not used)

Attendance 135