ROSSENDALE were left to rue their own indiscipline, while Clitheroe at last found their scoring boots in an entertaining derby encounter.

Both sides were hoping for victory to move themselves away from the bottom end of the table and it was the visitors who started brightly.

Kris Richens had to be alert in the opening stages as he saved well from a Robert Jones shot following a well-worked corner.

On 17 minutes, Rossendale's Chris Brookes appeared to have the freedom of Shawbridge as poor defending saw him waltz through the Clitheroe back line. Richens did well to force him wide and, after rounding the goalkeeper, Brookes found he had no support and his ball back into the middle was cleared.

The game's major turning point came on 20 minutes when Rossendale's Dean Cooper swung a punch at Jason Jones in an off the ball incident right in front of the referee. So it was no surprise at all when he was shown a red card.

This gave Clitheroe a new impetus and they took the lead on 29 minutes. The ball was played in to Lee Cryer on the penalty spot and, despite appeals for offside, his swift turn and shot nestled low into the bottom corner.

Rossendale hoped to make a positive start to the second half but their plans were ruined in the opening seconds as Cryer went round goalkeeper Mark Molyneaux only to be brought down by Bradley Clegg.

As the last defender, the referee again had no option but to issue the second red card of the game, while Jones made no mistake with his penalty kick.

Clitheroe then sat back, seemingly happy with their two-goal cushion and Rossendale began to create chances of their own. Richens was again called into action to make superb saves from Paul Varley and his own defender Ryan Parr, who headed a free kick towards his own goal.

With new signing Ross Harford causing all sorts of problems for the Clitheroe defence it was no surprise when he took advantage of a mix up in the defence to slip the ball into an empty net and give Rossendale a goal that they richly deserved in the closing stages.

But this glimmer of hope lasted for less than 60 seconds as a brave Gary Jackson header restored the two-goal cushion.

Clitheroe then added the fourth in stoppage time with a well-taken Jon Paul Fagan header.

UniBond First Division

NWCL Division Two

Rossendale Team

Mark Molyneaux, Chris Jones, Gary McInally, Brad Clegg, Jordan Rispin,

Alan Stockton, Stuart Tulloch, Robert Jones, Dean Cooper, Chris Brooks,

Danny Whittaker

Subs

Chris Clark (for Danny Whittaker)

Ross Harford (for Robert Jones)

Paul Varley (for Chris Brooks)