Ossett Albopn v Rossendale United

Date published: 31 July 2010

Rossendale’s plans to start their last pre season friendly with the team that they wanted to start the season with were thrown into disarray as for a variety of reasons several players were unavailable and so changes were forced upon the management team.

The match started with Rossendale on the offensive and in the very first minute Graham Vaughan and Nathan Gabriel had shots blocked as they forced their way into the penalty box. Ossett responded when Keith Wedge was beaten by an awkward bounce of the ball but the defence rallied round and the danger was snuffed out. Rossendale were creating chances and Rob Whatmore was denied an opening goal by a borderline decision as the linesman raised his flag. The game flowed from end to end and it was Ossett who took the lead when danger man Nathan James broke clear and calmly placed the ball past Dawsett in the Rossendale goal.

The Dale fought back from this set back and from the restart Matt Walsh was unlucky when played a neat passing move into the box only to see his effort scrambled away for a corner. Shortly after Rossendale did level the scores when a superb cross from Graham Vaughan on the left wing was met by the onrushing Whatmore who gave the Ossett keeper no chance. Ten minutes later Rossendale fell behind again when Darren Berrick turned the ball into the goal following a goal mouth scramble.

As is usually the case in friendlies several substitutions by both sides saw vastly differing lines ups for the start of the second half and this seemed to unsettle Rossendale more than it did Ossett and it was no surprise when two quick goals saw Ossett move into what appeared to be a winning margin but again Rossendale fought back and another great cross, this time from the right wing, was forced home from a narrow angle by Bancroft and Rossendale were right back in the match. Rossendale then pressed forward but were caught on the break and substitute Dale Kelly put the icing on the cake for Ossett in the final minute.

Rossendale Team

Charlie Dawsett, Keith Wedge, Kieron Mooney, Josh Hill, Aaron Swift, Matt Walsh, Chuku Ottou, Demi Kyriacou, Graham Vaughan, Nathan Gabriel, Rob Whatmore

Substitutes

Luke McVarish, Barry Massey, Martin Payne, Lee Bancroft, Steve Bancroft,

Chris Walker (G/K)