Rossy hit four in 11th straight win
ROSSENDALE ................. 4 CHIPPING ....................... 1
AFTER two cup matches Rossendale were back at Marl Pits for their first home league game since September 11 to face fourth-place Chipping – who they had beaten in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.
With all the top six playing each other a good result from the Stags was essential to keep the chasing pack at bay, Rossendale did their bit with a 4-1 win – for their 11th consecutive win.
On a cool autumnal day, the Stags continued their fantastic form, rac- ing into a three-goal lead with good goals from Tom Hulme (15), Scott Wylie (25), and Luke Simpson (25), but Chipping were allowed back into the game for the remainder of the first half, when Rossy’s normal fluid passing football escaped them, and the back four were put under increasing pressure.
Chipping got a deserved goal back on 41 mins, which spurred Rossy on again, and Simon Nangle brought a great save from the keeper with a header from a corner on the stroke of half time. But you could sense manager Ray Davies was not impressed.
The second half began with no changes from Rossy but the team were fired up straight from the restart.
No doubt with the manager’s half-time comments ringing in their ears, and after some telling pressure Rossy made it 4-1 when Scott Wylie put in a fantastic deep cross from the right to the back post where Tom Hulme (55) met it with a really well-placed header.
With that fourth goal the team were back in full control and the manager was able to fully use his bench to maintain this control, there was some controversy late on with a goal ruled out incorrectly for offside, for Tom Hulme, which the referee appeared to give and the team celebrated, only for the linesman to rule it out, the referee then allowing Chipping to take a quick free kick which nearly resulted in a goal at the other end.
Despite the late drama Rossendale ran out deserved winners and continue their phenomenal league form – which sees them unbeaten after 11 matches with a goal difference of plus 55.
The other two top six games saw second place Carnforth Rangers hang on to Rosendale’s coat tails after a remarkable match at Walney Island, finding themselves 4-0 down early on they fought back to run out 6-5 winners, and in the other match Kendal took over fourth spot after a 5-2 away win at third place Furness Rovers.
After just one home league match, Rossendale now face three away matches on the run starting on Saturday with a trip to Garstang Reserves with a 3pm kick off.