ROSSENDALE United are currently occupying their highest ever league position - despite the fact that they are struggling to score goals.

Dale, who scored a massive 114 league goals last season and boasted the league's top scorer Craig Sargeson, who bagged 39 in all competitions, have found the net just four times in the league - but grabbed another four in the FA Cup against Garforth Town.

Luckily for Dale, their defence is holding up. They conceded their first goal of the season against top-of-the-league Ossett Town on Tuesday night.

"I was disappointed with that to be honest," said manager Jim McCluskie.

"They are one of the favourites to go up and in the first half we ripped them apart. We should have had it won with three or four goals in the first half.

"We have to finish teams off. But it is the first time we conceded a goal this season which was pleasing."

Although Dale have been winning games by a single goal, they have been winning them on merit, with Darren Bowman and Gareth Gardiner, in particular, causing teams problems down the right flank.

"It wasn't like that for the first few games of the season," said McCluskie, honestly.

"But we have come into our own in the last few games, we are finding our feet at this level."

And he isn't particularly worried about the side's lack of goals - yet.

"We are just going through one of those periods, we are creating lots of chances but just not putting them away.

"But it is lifting everyone being in this position even though it is early days.

"During the team talk on Tuesday I told the lads we would go top of the league if we won and that it would be the highest position since . . . and I looked at my kit man and he said 'ever'.

"So it shows how far we have come. But we said before the start of the season that we'd have a look at our position after a dozen games."

Dale are at home to Farsley Celtic tomorrow hoping to keep the unbeaten run going.

"They are a physical side but all the results in this league have been tight so far. I think everyone thinks they are in with a chance of promotion."