ROSSENDALE UNITED ...1 COLWYN BAY...3

DALE have played far worse this season and won, but a combination of missed chances, bad luck, poor officials and rank bad defending cost them dear.

Their already paper thin squad was pushed to the limit with Chris Perkins unavailable, and things were made worse with Scott Bonsall being stuck on the M62 and unable to make the game.

Manager Jim McCluskie once again made up the numbers as Dale had just 12 fit players available to them, a shocking statistic for a UniBond First Division side playing at home.

Bay took the lead when Aaron Thomas was allowed to go through to score at the second attempt following a good save from Mark Andrews.

Thomas doubled the lead 10 minutes before the break from the penalty spot following one of many baffling decisions by referee Foulkes as Dale fans began to fear the worst.

Andrews produced a brilliant penalty save to deny Thomas his hat-trick but the game was effectively over in the 53rd minute as the Dale defence stood still and allowed Roberts to score from close range.

Dale continued to press forward and dominated the remaining half hour, and with 10 minutes left, McCluskie scored his first goal for almost four years.