ROSSENDALE United have a superb goalkeeping display from Mark Andrews to thank, as he single-handedly kept the scoreline respectable after Ossett's second half onslaught.

There was little to suggest what was to come after the break in what was a dismal first half, both sides guilty of wasting possession with very little created in front of goal. Ossett's Wael Nazah had a shot well blocked in the fifth minute, and Matthew Smithard blazed over midway through the first half.

Despite creating little, it was Dale who took the lead on the stroke of half time. Troy Hayder latched onto a long ball down the left wing and he cut in shaking off two challenges before smashing the ball in off the far post from a seemingly impossible angle.

The second half was one-way traffic and Nazah equalised just three minutes in as Dale failed to clear their lines.

It was Andrews against the rest from then on as he denied Paul Jones, Smithard and Shaun Constable with wonder saves, and he denied Nazah on another two occasions.

It looked like Dale were going to cling on for an unlikely point but with just seven minutes left Tomlinson diverted Smithard's shot past Andrews for the winner.

Dale woke up in the last five minutes and Ossett keeper Lee Bracey was forced into two brave saves late on to deny Dale an equaliser.

OSSETT TOWN 2 ROSSENDALE UTD 1