THE lesson to learn from this game is if you defend for long periods of a game it is inevitable that eventually points will be conceded.

So it proved in this game, which from the start, the visitors found themselves under pressure from a very experienced Rochdale-based outfit, fielding several players with National Conference experience.

To Accrington's credit they kept Mayfield at bay until the last 15 minutes of the game before the floodgates opened.

Only 6-0 down at half time and going into the latter stages only 12-0 behind, it looked as though they could maybe still get something from the game.

However, Mayfield's dominance told as Accrington crumbled allowing the home side to take a commanding lead.

Spirits are still high and everyone is preparing to face Pilkingtons away.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.