Slick Stags hit rivals for four
ROSSENDALE travelled to Chipping for an evening kick off and what has sometimes been a tricky fixture, but the Stags came through with some brilliant passing football to record what turned out to be a comfortable 4-0 victory.
The game started pretty evenly and it was Chipping who had the first real shot at goal with a brilliant effort that rattled the crossbar, the Stags gradually gained control with some good passing and they broke the deadlock on 23 minutes when an attack was cleared by the Chipping defence the ball fell to Joe Haworth who drilled the ball into the corner from 25 yards.
Although Rossendale were controlling the game Chipping were dangerous and for a second time they smashed a shot against the Stags’ crossbar but on 40 minutes a mistake in the Chipping defence was seized on by Paul Stannard who managed to get the ball to Tom Hulme who smashed home to give the Stags a 2-0 half time lead.
From the kick off in the second half Chipping forced the pace but a smart move forward on 48 mins brought the Stags a free kick 25 yards out on the left, Luke Simpson swung the ball in which looked to be covered by the Chipping keeper but the ball slipped through his fingers into the net.
Rossendale were now in control of the game and their closing down and passing were causing the Chipping defence all sorts of problems and on 66 minutes the game was out of sight of Chipping when Jordan Hilton’s pin point cross was headed home by Hulme to give the Stags a fully deserved 4-0 lead.
For the second game in a row the Stags could have had five when Simon Nangle stooped to head home a ball but was flagged offside, the gradual introduction of five substitutes didn’t affect the Stags play, a brilliant squad performance from the Stags brought them maximum points from two games and they lead the table on goal difference,
Saturday sees the Stags at home at Marl Pits to Cartmel & District with a 3pm kick off.