A PLACE in the UniBond Premier Division for next season seems to be as distant as ever for Rossendale, as they failed to score for the fourth game running.

Their powder puff attack never looked like breaking through the well-organised Hyde defence and Simon Burton's flick header, that was cleared off the line by Ian Pendlebury, was their only effort on target in the game.

The first half was fairly even as Dale matched their promotion-chasing opponents and they had the ball in the net early on but Burton's effort was ruled out for a foul.

The tall striker had another effort deflected wide but the visitors were grateful to keeper Mark Andrews, who pulled off two superb saves to deny first Matty McNeill and then Kieran Delaney.

It was after the break that the home side took over and there was only going to be one winner once Hyde went in front on the hour.

Jamie Milligan had already been denied by a Greg Challender goal-line clearance at the start of the second half, but there was no stopping his free kick, which rocketed home off the underside of the bar.

It was on a rare visit forward that Burton had his header cleared off the line, and he looked to be Dale's best chance of scoring an equaliser but he was substituted with 15 minutes left.

Full back Matt Houldsworth was then forced from the field through injury and Hyde exploited the gap left by his absence, McNeill being put through to seal a comfortable win for the home side with a neat finish.

Rossendale need to improve if they are to progress in the FA Trophy tomorrow night. They go to Guiseley for a replay, with the winners facing Worksop Town at home in the third round.