ROSSENDALE UNITED 2

CHORLEY 2

CHORLEY managed to stay two points ahead of Rossendale in the scrap to avoid relegation from the UniBond First Division as the points were shared at Dark Lane.

A late Brad Clegg equaliser bailed out Dale player-manager Mark Molyneaux, who elected to play himself in goal against his former side despite clearly being unfit.

But with Chorley still having a game in hand on their opponents, they will still be more pleased with a point thanks to Jamie Vermiglio's double strike.

Molyneaux's movement was restricted, and all too often his back four were put under pressure due to his inability to kick the ball. The decision was even more baffling with keeper Stuart Lindsay starting on the bench in case Molyneaux broke down.

BUt it was Dale who attacked form the start, with Stuart Tulloch getting in behind the visitors' defence only for Paul Horridge to save at the winger's feet. Following that initial break, the visitors had the majority of the early possession and took the lead after 20 minutes. Molyneaux failed to get down to Danny Queeley's cross and Jamie Vermiglio scored from close range.

Dale centre half Oliver McGee got in a vital interception at the near post to stop Queeley doubling the lead and from the resulting corner, Chris Brooks broke down field and played in Lee Wilkinson, who hit the side netting.

Another long through ball caught the Dale defence flat footed and although Neill Hardy beat Molyneaux to the ball his effort drifted just wide of the post.

Dale drew level in the 44th minute when a short corner was only half cleared and Dean Cooper hammered a shot past Horridge into the top corner.

The joy didn't last long though and within a minute Chorley were back in front. An in-swinging corner caught everyone flat footed until McGhee handled on the line and Vermiglio slotted home the spot kick.

The second half started slowly and it took until the 68th minute for the first real attempt in anger after the break. Cooper almost repeated his effort from the first half but this time the ball thumped the bar with Horridge stranded.

Wilkinson then flicked a shot past Horridge which drifted wide and the big striker hit another shot over the bar from a Cooper cross

Then Wilkinson seemed to be tripped in the area by Chris McGrath but the officials chose to ignore the appeals and Brooks hammered another effort wide.

Just as it appeared that an equaliser wouldn't arrive up popped Clegg to head home Wilkinson's cross to earn Dale a point.

Rossendale: Molyneaux, C Jones, McInally, Clegg, McGee, R Jones, Tulloch, Brooks, Wilkinson, Cooper (Harford), Rebbeck (Hogan).

Chorley: Horridge, Callaghan, Price, Teale, Ellison, McGrath (Molyneaux 90), Dickinson (Eatock 80), Vermiglio, Hardy, Queeley (Smith 75), Bluck

.