Stags in promotion to Premier League
BACK-TO-BACK victories in their final two West Lancs League Division One fixtures saw Rossendale FC promoted to the Premier League.
The Stags finished level with Lostock St Gerards on 76 points, Lostock crowned champions by virtue of their superior goal difference.
The penultimate match of the campaign brought a closely fought 3-2 win at fifth-placed Eagley FC where it took a 92nd minute winner to separate the sides.
In a high octane match on a bumpy playing surface, the first half was a scrappy, cagey affair with Rossendale holding a slender 1-0 lead.
But the second half had everything and was pinched by Rossendale 3-2 with a 92nd minute rebound from a missed penalty.
On a poor playing surface, Rossendale settled into the game from the start but early final passes did not find their target.
Eagley were picking up loose balls and looking for their two speedy wingers but passes at times were being over hit.
After a couple of early corners, Rossendale made one count when Tom Hartley’s left wing delivery was met with a Simon Nangle glancing header down into the corner to give the Stags the lead at half time.
The second half started well for Rossendale. After only two minutes a Scott Wylie effort grazed the left-hand post with the keeper beaten.
On 58 minutes Rossendale scored a second when a smart move down the right ended with Stuart Craig sending in a pinpoint cross which was met in the middle with a super Tom Hartley header, giving the keeper no chance.
If Rossendale thought the match was safe they were mistaken. Eagley set about attacking the Rossendale goal and when the home team was awarded a couple of soft free kicks it angered the Stags players and affected their concentration. Eagley took advantage on 62 minutes when a header looped over the defence and into the net to reduce the arrears.
Straight from the kick off, Rossendale nearly restored their two-goal advantage when a stinging Tom Hulme effort was brilliantly tipped round the post by the Eagley keeper.
Eagley were now in control and Rossendale had to be at their best to keep them out, but on 75 minutes their pressure told as poor defending allowed the striker to fire home the equaliser.
Five minutes later Scott Wylie received the ball on the edge of the area and his turn and shot towards the top left hand corner of the net was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the Eagley keeper.
As the game entered stoppage time a last gasp surge forward brought a penalty for the Stags which the referee awarded for hand ball. After a couple of minutes Tom Hartley stepped up and his spot kick was blocked low down to his left by the keeper. But first to react was Joe Haworth who smashed the rebound into the net to set off wild scenes among the Rossendale players.
When Eagley restarted the game the ref blew for full time, sparking more celebrations. The result would have appeared hard on the Eagley team but the three points for the neversay-die Stags left them to go to Lostock St Gerrards where, if they could avoid defeat, they would guarantee promotion to the premier division.
And promotion was secured with a memorable 2-1 win at the home of the champions.
A magnificent, gutsy performance from all the
squad brought all three points home, wrapping up the runners up spot and the reward of promotion to the Premier Division.
On a baking hot day in front of a very large crowd – including a good following from the Valley – Rossendale made a fast start, forcing two early corners.
They opened the scoring on 10 minutes when a ball in from the right caused confusion in the Lostock defence and Tom Hulme nipped in between the goalkeeper and a defender, controlled the ball and fired home.
Lostock got back into the game and were happy to play high balls into the area for their striker, who was handful all afternoon. However, the Rossendale defence stood strong and they kept Lostock out. Any further balls forward from Lostock were over hit and gathered in by a grateful Vinny McLaughlin in the
Rossendale goal.
Both teams continued to attack each other but with determined and strong defending they cancelled each other out.
Still, with half time approaching Lostock equalised. The right-sided player got past the Rossendale defence and laid the ball back – after a blocked shot a Lostock player fired home the rebound.
Rossendale were dealt a double blow with two injuries to two of their strikers. Firstly, just before the break, Scott Wylie went down unchallenged and had to be carried from the field with what looked like a bad ankle injury – it turned out to be a ruptured Achilles Tendon which will keep him out for a long period. In addition, Tom Walker had to be replaced during the interval after an earlier collision.
But it didn’t deter the Stags in the second half. The experienced Lostock team upped the ante but all the Rossendale squad galvanized together and stuck to their tasks manfully, defending like tigers when they had to and throwing everything forward on breaks up field.
On 62 minutes the Stags stunned their hosts as a neat move forward found Luke Simpson whose precise pass was picked up by Mickey Saunders. He raced clear and fired home to give the Stags the lead.
The final 25 minutes seemed like hours as in desperation to at least get an equaliser, Lostock pushed big defenders up field.
As the match entered injury time and Rossendale kept possession, Tom Hartley drifted past a couple of Lostock defenders but a third launched himself,
taking Hartley out with an horrendous tackle. A mass brawl broke out as Hartley angrily took his revenge on the Lostock player, leaving the referee no option but to send both off.
The never-say-die Stags kept going and when the referee blew the final whistle the celebrations broke out among both teams. Lostock were crowned champions and Rossendale secured second place, finishing level on points with Lostock and completing the double over their hosts.
A special mention to the whole Rossendale squad after giving their all in the last 17 days where they had to play seven games, starting with the brilliant Richardson Cup Final victory, followed by a 200mile round trip to Millom only to come home pointless. This was their only defeat in the seven games.
It was followed by five close, hard-earned victories including a local derby win over Haslingden St Mary’s and ending with a fabulous victory over the league champions to crown a superb season, ending in promotion.
The Premier League beckons in 23/24.
At the end of season presentation central defender Simon Nangle won both player of the season and players player of the season.