Barnoldswick Town 1 v 1 Rossendale United

Date published: 01 September 2010

Rossendale were hard pressed to extend their unbeaten run to six games with a draw against a very physical Barnoldswick side, a fact born out by the nine bookings and a sending off in the match.

With work commitments causing Thomas and Mooney to miss the game and early injuries to Walsh and Doherty causing them to be substituted early in the game the side was much changed from the one that progressed in the F. A. Cup last Saturday and Rossendale were never able, or allowed, to play their normal passing game.

The first half was rather a drab affair with chances at either end at a premium and neither keeper was troubled until, with half time approaching, Brocklehurst was called on to turn a fierce shot from Chapman over the bar.

Rossendale took the lead in the match in the fifty second minute when Keith Wedge cut in from the left and fired in a shot that Carrington was only able to parry and Nathan Bond was on hand to knock the rebound home.

Only a tremendous save by Carrington prevented Rossendale from going further in front as he clawed away a rasping drive from Lee McNally from under the bar.

Barnoldswick then began to put the Rossendale defence under pressure and it paid off when Robbie Smith fired home from just inside the box but to the crowd it looked like from a suspicious looking offside position.

The sending off of Lee Kershaw spurred the home side on to greater efforts but although they produced several chances good goalkeeping and wayward finishing meant that Rossendale were able to see the match out and to continue their unbeaten run.