ROSSENDALE paid the price for Tuesday night's epic FA Cup replay against Barrow with three precious league points dropped at home to North Ferriby United.

After 120 minutes and penalties against Barrow in midweek the Dale side looked physically and mentally drained and North Ferriby took full advantage.

They defended well and attacked on the break; a successful tactic against a defence clearly missing the presence of the influential Steve Bird, who broke a leg in Tuesday's game and looks set to miss the rest of the season.

"It was a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show," said Dale manager Jim McCluskie. "We were physically and mentally drained; a shadow of our usual selves.

"We missed Steve Bird massively, it showed what a big presence he has."

McCluskie has signed a temporary replacement for Bird in Leigh's Ricky Harris, who comes to the UniBond First Division side on a month's loan.

"He needs some games," said McCluskie of the 34-year-old. "He can play in the centre of defence or midfield. He is big and strong, good in the air and is a good organiser."

Dale looked sluggish in the opening stages against North Ferriby and the game didn't come to life until the vistors opened the scoring in the 24th minute.

Defender Mike Smith gave a free kick away clumsily on the edge of the area and when the ball was floated in captain Rob Dewhurst rose to head home.

Centre half Ged Walsh had a perfect opportunity at the other end to level the scores just two minutes later but he sent a free header over the bar.

Just minutes later Mark Patterson sent an inch perfect pass out to Gareth Gardner on the right who homed in on goal but barely tested the keeper with his shot and Danny Heys had a long-range effort saved.

Debutant goalkeeper Mike Allison was keeping Dale in it at the other end with a good save from North Ferriby's Gavin Knight who latched onto a poor back pass from Mike Smith but couldn't find a way past the former Congleton keeper.

On the stroke of half-time Dale got a deserved equaliser when Heys chipped the advancing keeper from the corner of the box.

After the break Craig Sargeson, Steve Cunningham and Willcocks all had efforts saved but on the hour North Ferriby went ahead through an individual goal from Nathan Stead.

Stead picked the ball up in midfield and advanced almost unquestioned to the edge of the area and rifled the ball into the net.

McCluskie brought striker David Gray on for Willcocks and pushed Sargeson up front from his left midfield position but Dale struggled to break down a defence that was happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Sargeson and Gray had shots easily saved and Dale's attacking play almost cost them as the visitors hit on the break.

Allison saved from Stead after a mix-up at the back and Gavin Knight hit a shot wide.

Walsh put another header wide five minutes from time for the home side and Dale were unfortunate not to get a penalty when North Ferriby's Dewhurst clearly used his arm to block a cross in the dying minutes.

The visitors then wrapped up the points when, from Gray losing possession on the edge of the visitors' penalty area, they broke quickly to Vill Powell who rode a Walsh tackle before slotting home.

RESULT: ROSSENDALE...1 NORTH FERRIBY UNITED...3