Ten-man Stags extend fine run

CHARNOCK RICHARD... 1 ROSSENDALE FC ............ 4

ROSSENDALE continued their stunning league form with a hard fought win away at Charnock.

In terrible weather conditions, with the wind driving the heavy rain sideways, the Stags put in a tremendous team effort after playing with ten men from half way through the first half.

The game started well and Rossy should have scored within the first minute but Tom Hulme headed just over the bar. But the scoring was opened in the 7th minute when Scott Wylie controlled in the box and beat a defender to fire low into the corner.

Controversy arrived in the 17th minute when after an innocuous challenge on the edge of Rossy’s area the referee awarded a free-kick to the away team. But after a fairly simple tangle of legs between Simon Nangle and the Centre Forward the referee blew his whistle and incredibly sent the Rossy player off for violent conduct.

Rossy took time to calm down and adjust to losing a man and in that period, Charnock were able to equalise. But to their credit the away team did adjust and soon took control of the game again.

In the 31st minute Tom Hulme rose to head home a corner after a sustained period of pressure.

The second half was a fantastic example of teamwork and effort as Rossy not only took the game away from Charnock but also did not allow their opponents one shot on goal.

In the 58th minute Tom Hulme nearly scored from fully 30 yards, and on 71 mins Scott Wylie was unlucky not to score after a fantastic piece of skill to beat the Charnock defenders only to see his shot rise just over.

The crucial third came on 82 mins when Wylie broke through, rounded the keeper and from a tight angle hit the target with some help from a Charnock defender on the line. A fourth was added in injury time when Jordan Hilton scored direct from a corner.

It was no more than the Stags deserved after a fantastic performance in difficult circumstances and showed once more why they are unbeaten in the league this season. The next game is on the road at Freckleton PR4 1SB Saturday 13th November 2pm Kick Off.