HIGH-flying Rossendale are urging football supporters to come and give them a try - as they should like what they see.

Unbeaten Dale are currently topping the UniBond First Division - with eight wins from their ten games - and are also going well after two matches in the FA Cup.

Things are extremely bright at Dark Lane since they won promotion from the NWCL Division One last season and they are making other sides stand up and take notice of them.

"It has been a good start but that's all it has been so far. We are not going to get too carried away," said manager Jim McCluskie.

"But we are hoping we are putting Rossendale on the map.

"I know people are starting to take an interest in us now, there is a lot of banter at work and I hear people talking about the team in the town.

"It is good but saying that we haven't won anything this season yet. We do have to keep our feet on the ground."

With hot shot Craig Sargeson up front, former Bolton and Rovers player Mark Patterson in the centre of the park and a defence which has kept seven clean sheets in their ten games so far, they are proving the team to beat.

They are currently drawing in crowds of more than 200.

"We have a good young set of lads, we try to play entertaining football, we have a good ground, a friendly atmosphere so we can offer quite a lot," continued the Dale chief.

"We do tend to be drawn at home with Burnley and with them doing so well it may take a few off our gate.

"But we are hoping we can attract more fans, especially because of the start we have had.

"As we are at the top of the league, we are the team everyone wants to beat at the moment but we had plenty of practise of that last season and I think the lads are better for that experience."

And he says his side are better for adding the experience of Mark Patterson to the squad during the summer.

"Mark was just what we needed. We are a young team and the players can learn a lot from him.

"He is good on the pitch, he is good in training, he sets an example and he shouts at one or two of them as well!

"He doesn't hold back. We needed that type of player."

Harrogate Town, who have lost only once in the league this season and have conceded just three goals, are the visitors to Dark Lane tomorrow and McCluskie knows they will represent a fierce test of his side's promotion credentials.

"They have spent a few bob and it is well known they are going for it this season," he said.

"To us, though, it is just another test. It doesn't matter who the opposition is.

"We never wanted a season of consolidation this season, that never entered my head, we are a progressive club and we want to go up again.

"We play to win, we are not there to make up the numbers."