Rossendale rue missed opportunities

AFTER being denied promotion due to the coronavirus outbreak – which curtailed the previous season – and with no promotion or relegation, Rossendale FC started their 20/21 season again in the second division with a home fixture against Dalton United from Cumbria.

A good crowd witnessed a good first half of football from Rossendale, but an inconsistent second period meant the team had to settle for a share of the spoils

Rossendale started the match well and soon had their visitors on the back foot.

Tom Hulme had a shot rebound off the post in the tenth minute and the home side continued to dominate the half with Dalton struggling to get the ball away.

Rossendale did break the deadlock when the visitors failed to clear a corner and good work from Luke Simpson made space for a shot which was blocked. The ball broke to Hulme who slammed the ball into the corner for a 24th minute lead.

Five minutes later Rossendale again hit the woodwork when a hasty clearance came off captain Adam McInnes onto the post and away to safety.

A good run from Jack Cassidy saw the full back bundled over in the area, but appeals for what looked a clear penalty were waved away by the referee.

More chances were made and more shots rained in on the Dalton goal which were either just wide of the mark, blocked or saved by the keeper.

When the Cumbrians did get forward the Rossendale defence were dealing with any threats and any clear chances were quickly snuffed out, and just as it seemed they would go in at the break with a slender lead, hesitancy in the Rossendale defence allowed a snap shot which left keeper Sipocz stranded as the ball looped into the top corner of the net for the equaliser.

In the second period Rossendale didn’t seem as sharp as in the first half and were not moving the ball quickly enough, which allowed Dalton to pack their area.

At the other end they dealt with any rare Dalton attacks, but as the half wore on Dalton seemed content to settle for a draw with time wasting now very evident.

With Rossendale at last upping the tempo, shots again rained in on the Dalton goal, the visiting defenders were throwing their bodies in front of shots and with some hasty clearances they continued to deny the home attack.

Five minutes from time a Joel Haworth snap shot was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by the Dalton goalkeeper for a corner, which probably summed up Rossendale’s day as the referee pointed for a goal kick and shortly after he brought the game to a finish.

After all their dominance it was the first half missed chances and a stubborn Dalton defence that led to two points dropped in their first home match of the season.

This Saturday, Rossendale play the first of three consecutive away matches when they travel to play Kendal United (LA9 7BN) with a 3pm kick off.