Stags crash to heavy defeat

Date published: 16 December 2009

Tuesday 15th December 2009 Unibond League Division One North

Lancaster City 4 v 0 Rossendale United
Rossendale can consider the number four their unlucky number as with four first team regulars missing through injury they lost 4-0 for the second time in four days and with a motorway hold up causing the late arrival of half the team it was inevitable that it would take the Dale a while to settle.

This proved to be the case and Rossendale had keeper Tom Brocklehurst to thank for two early saves and from one of these the resulting corner led to the opening goal as Jordan Connerton stole in at the near post to glance a header into the net.

At the other end loud claims for handball in the penalty area fell onto deaf ears and Lancaster went straight down the other end to earn another corner and with Rossendale, not learning from their earlier lapse, let in a replica goal this time from Sharrock, to put the home side two goals in front.

With half time approaching Rossendale fell further behind when Connerton scored his second of the game from close range to give the home side a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Almost from the start of the second half Connerton muscled his way through four players to put Lancaster well out reach and completed his hat trick with a shot in off the post and it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Dale.

To their credit Rossendale never gave up and efforts by Leke, Williams and Hart all came close to giving the score line an air of respectability but it was not to be and it gives the management team food for thought for Saturday’s vital clash with near neighbours Chorley.

Rossendale Team

Tom Brocklehurst, Keith Wedge, Shaun Williams, Bee Ami, Andrew Charlesworth, Jason Hart, Tom Clarkson, Kayde Choppin, Alex Leke, Danny Thomas

Substitutes

Tom Williams (for Charlesworth), Nathan Taylor (for Thomas), Matt Ellis (for Ami)

Attendance 162