ROSSENDALE kept up the pressure on top club Vauxhall with a fine 2-1 win over St Helens Town.

Off the pitch, with their ground improvements, United are still hoping they can snatch a place in the UniBond League next season and they are not letting anyone down on the pitch as they chalked up their 21st FNWTL win of the season.

This was the third encounter between the two clubs this year, and the first half was a drab affair with St Helens just really playing the season out as they bid to finish as high up the table as possible.

There was little threat on either goal although a Jerome Fitzgerald cross across the penalty area somehow evaded three Dale players.

A consistency of the match was the inconsistency of the match officials who astounded both teams with some questionable decisions.

The second half was more of a spectator event and when Micky Graham remonstrated with the linesman for missing yet another Saints offside, he was booked and dispatched to the stand 12 minutes after the restart.

Saints took the lead after 60 minutes when a ball into the box was crashed home.

Neil Ollerton again starting the match from the off, worked hard with Craig Sargeson up front, but after he was replaced with McCluskie, Dale began to tick. Heys was brought more into the game, and as Dale opened up the play Heys was able to run at the visitors defence.

One of these runs brought Dale level when Heys was bundled over during a run into the box. Sargeson converted the penalty to make it 1-1 on 71 minutes.

Dennis Hill came off the subs bench four minutes later for the injured Jerome, for his first match after resigning from Clitheroe.

And within three minutes Rossy moved in front. A lovely cross from Matt Raywood was expertly met by "Sargy" who claimed his second. Raywood continued to make progress and sent over an identical cross which was met by McCluskie who narrowly missed notching with a powerful header.

Dale could have gone further in front with good efforts from Matt Knowles, Sargeson and McCluskie again with a super shot on the turn.

Good performances again from midfield pair Matt Knowles and Jamie Smith along with captain for the day Jason Heffernan.

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