It was a cold Boxing day crowd of 144 that endured the serving up of a home performance that did little to warm any bodies hands. Lee Unsworth and Si Kelly return to the back four with a debutant on the bench named Kieren Fletcher a central defender and former Chorley captain. Referee Kavanagh gets the game going and Roscoe shows first in a crunching tackle that leaves him injured but frees up Griff Jones to set off on a purposeful run towards goal, he can't find a gap and the move ends . Roscoe returns to his feet after treatment and continues. The red of Rossendale are closing players well to restrict Radcliffes football to the midfield. Boro have half chances in the first fifteen with little response from United . Dawson goes into the book for tripping the attacker who takes up the ball after Si Kellys pass doesn't reach Fitzpatrick. Rossendale push forward from the free kick and force a corner taken by Turner it clears the defence and is missed by Priestley who relies on Owen Roberts who clears from under the bar. The ball is moved quickly up field the best pass finds Mark Jones in the box who shapes and shoots to pull a good save out of Proctor who pushes the ball past his left post for the corner. The corner is tailor made for the rising Craig Dawson who heads the ball true past the keeper to make it 1-0 on 17 minutes and put himself at the top of the Boro goalscoring chart with 5 so far. Griff Jones persistant play opens up a chance for Fitzpatrick who turns and shoots, the ball deflects high and with the sting gone the keeper collects easily. The visitors captain John turner turns well in midfield to play in Phil Eastwood who curls a shot tamely past Boro's right hand upright on 20 minutes. Boro have the chance to double the lead when Dawson takes control and sends a long ball up field to Griff Jones finding the keeper a long way outbeats him to the ball and with him out of position unbalance strikes at goal from the edge of the box , the defender clears in the six yard box. Boro are looking to extend the lead when Roberts plays the ball down the left flank to Roscoe on half way he quickly finds Griff Jones who just cant control. Griff Jones works hard across the box to play in Roscoe on the left wing he elects to shoot when Fitzpatrick waiting would have been the better option. Roscoe crosses better minutes later to find Mark Jones whos volleyed pass doesn't find a team mate. Rossendale realise Boro are not taking chances and start to have a belief they can gain something from the game. United spot a good run between the Boro centre halves by Tom Williams who stretches but can only get a toe on the ball for an easy save for Priestley. Williams is involved again when is flick in the box finds Eastwood who can't finish when placed well. The last ten minutes of the half belong to the reds with a flurry of attacking moves with both full backs getting more involved. Turner comes close sending a shot 2 yards past the post. Full back Heywood attacks the box without a challenge and is allowed to shoot but sees it fly high above the bar. A free kick awarded to United sees their captain strike against the Boro wall who hold well before Roberts clears the danger.Boro take it forward with a good move started by Roberts and ended by him with a return pass by Roscoe he shoots weakly past the post. Rossendale have been knocking and the door opens on the stroke of half time, Heywood supplies a good cross that Williams connects well to bring a fine save by Boro's number one, it falls into the path of Clarkson who strikes , Priestley can only parry and Tom Williams is on hand to thrash the ball into the top of the net from the foot of the post 1-1 on 45 minutes. The interval is a welcome as the visitors grew in confidence and looked better as the half went on.
Griff Jones takes up the ball when Fitzpatrick can not control, he shoots harmlessly over to see another chance go. Roscoe flicks on to Griff Jones who plays in Fitzpatrick who shoots wide across goal. Graham Vaughan supplies a good cross that Brockley defends well , Rossendale are looking lively with Williams being the obvious threat with his ability to break at speed, he shows it on 55 when he as Priestley diving to his left to keep his low shot out, the ball is left invitingly for Zach Clark to drill the ball into the net and take his side into the lead. Boro make a change with Fitzpatrick unable to repeat his form of Monday night replaced Steve Howson. Quick breaks from Rossendale are forming the pattern of the game with Boro pushing to equalize. Dawson is required to be on his game after priestley smothers the ball well in a one to one with Clark, the united number 7 is lucky in the roll of the ball and is nearly in, dawson keeps his head to clear. Howson wins a corner after a long ball plays him in on the hour. The corner as no threat.Both sides are creating half chances but both require a better quality in the final ball. Boro have the greater possesion in the last quarter of the game with United playing a good counter attacking game that Boro need to keep tight reign on. Griff Jones is replaced by Michael Oates on 71. Rossendale look to break at every oppurtunity and do so with purpose on 75 minutes , Boro pause for the offside to be given, Tom Williams doesn't and finds room to pass in field to the waiting winger Graham Vaughan who side foots cleanly into the Boro goal for 3-1 . The red team are defending well that matches thier attacking game and it will be difficult for the home side to recover. With time running away Boro get chances through howson who should have scored with only the keeper to beat as a long clearance found him well. Michael Oates is rusty in front of goal and can not convert chances given to him in the box. With Kelly and Dawson in a more advance position they look the most likely to convert a chance. Mark Jones is fouled 25 yards out central to goal, Drew steps up to take and strikes it well past the wall , it is bound for the bottom corner before Williams gets a boot to it to clear for the corner. The corner comes in and is not cleared, the ball wont drop for Oates and is then cleared. Opportunities come the Boro way but some poor decision making with the final ball lets them down. Kieren Fletcher is introduced for Roscoe and he sits in Kellys place for him to move forward for the last 15 minutes. All the play is in the visitors last third but the hosts do not look likely to score and are being shut out well, united nearly make it four on ninety when priestley hits the ball against substitute Watson , it kindly goes for the goal kick. Rossendale use time to sub Eastwood for Dunnan before the final attack from Boro sees Mark Jones produce some good work to feed Howson who trys the shot, the keeper is strong and saves , and then again from Oates. A dissapointing home defeat after taking the early lead, Boro didnt take chances , the visitors did and it as become the common thread when reporting on home games. It is the time of year when we all make resolutions, a few for boro........
React quickly to oppurtunities
Make decisions early
Think quality with the last ball
Believe in your own ability
Dont let a centre half be the clubs top scorer come May! Shake the hands of Salford, we would be in trouble without them!
With the 27 players being used so far this season we need to find the right formula soon, the table below does not lie.
A safe, prosperous and happy new year to you all.
| 14 | Curzon Ashton | ||||||||
| 15 | Rossendale United | ||||||||
| 16 | Woodley Sports | ||||||||
| 17 | Chorley | ||||||||
| 18 | Radcliffe Borough | ||||||||
| 19 | Warrington Town | ||||||||
| 20 | Harrogate Railway Athletic | ||||||||
| 21 | Salford City | ||||||||
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