Date published: 21 April 2010

Tuesday 20th April 2010

Unibond League Division One North

Rossendale United 1 v 0 Wakefield F.C.

Rossendale produced a hard fought win against a workman like Wakefiled side but it will almost be too little too late as with Ossett gaining a point it would take a miracle of major proportions if they were not to finish bottom of the league for this season. With Tom Williams returning after a long injury lay off Rossendale had the pace up front to trouble the Wakefield defenders and in the fifteenth minutes Williams persistence caused a mix up between the back four and the keeper and the ball broke free to enable him to roll the ball into an unguarded net. Rossendale were playing the ball about in a quick and decisive manner and Owens could and perhaps should have double the score but put his shot over the bar from a narrow angle. Rossendale cause was given a boost when, with half time approaching, Tom Smith broke clear and was hauled down on the edge of the box by Craig Laight and the Wakefield number six received his marching orders for the offence although the resulting free kick came to nothing.

Wakefield made light of being a man short in the second half and swarmed forward seeking an equaliser but Rossendale held firm and defended resolutely restricting goal scoring opportunities to a minimum. Wakefield did not have it all their own way and Owens and Ryan Zico-Black had half chances to make the game safe for Rossendale but it proved unnecessary as they clung to their one goal lead until the final whistle and gained the three points on offer.

Rossendale Team

Tom Brocklehurst, Keith Wedge, Shaun Williams, Jack Higgins, Kieran Mooney, Richard Winstanley, David Owens, Matt Walsh, Tom Smith, Ryan Zico-Black, Tom Williams

Substitutes

Mark Edmeads (not used), Andy Gayle (not used), Ian Barker (for Williams S.)