Silsden 2 v 2 Rossendale United

Date published: 27 August 2010

Rossendale got the game off to a perfect start as far as they were concerned as with only 25 seconds on the clock Daniel Doherty chased a long ball, put the home defence under a lot of pressure and forced the error which allowed him to lob the ball over the advancing keeper.

Rossendale were producing some slick entertaining football and the pace of Wolden, Hart and McNally was causing a multitude of problems to the Silsden defence and restricting Silsden to the odd breakaway.

It was no surprise when The Dale increased their lead in the twenty second minute when Wolden capitalised on a defensive error and laid the ball across the goal to the onrushing Hart who placed the ball past Thompson to give Rossendale what appeared to be comfortable lead.

After thirty minutes an injury to Wolden, which saw him have to be substituted, disrupted the flow of Rossendale’s game and before they had chance to regroup ex Rossendale striker David Gray hit an unstoppable shot from thirty yards which found the top corner of the net.

Silsden then finished the half in the ascendancy and it was left to the management team to re-organise the side at half time.

Whatever was said galvanised the side and the second half saw Rossendale continue to force the game and chances were coming thick and fast but no one was able to find the finishing touch and the inevitable happened with time running out when Silsden were awarded a very fortunate penalty for an alleged hand ball.

Yet another ex Dale striker Sam Heap stepped up and beat Brocklehurst to put the scores level and leave Rossendale very little time to put matters right. A frantic end to the game saw three players sent off, Peter Hanson and Lee Thompson for Silsden and Jason Hart for Rossendale but the game by no means reflected this.

From the resulting free kick following Hanson’s departure Danny Thomas almost secured an injury time winner for Rossendale but his header flashed just the wrong side of the post and Rossendale had to share the spoils but in truth it was a game which they could and perhaps should have taken all three points on offer.

Next games

F.A.Cup Saturday 28th August Rossendale United v Cammell Laird

Vodkat league Tuesday 31st August Barnoldswick Town v Rossendale United