ROSSENDALE fell to their third straight defeat against a strong, well organised Ossett side.

The Yorkshire visitors won the battle and controlled midfield, and once they had taken the lead they never looked like losing it.

First Division top scorer Danny Toronczak was a constant threat and he helped himself to two second half goals to put an end to any hopes Dale had of getting anything out of the game.

Ossett set the pace in the opening half an hour, with Toronczak going close twice in the opening 10 minutes, while Jon Wordsworth should have done better with a free header that he put off target.

Mark Molyneaux pulled of a great save from Adam Fretwell, Asa Ingall missed with a free header and Molyneaux did well to turn Ian McLean's mis-directed cross over the bar.

Despite being on the back foot, it was Dale who took the lead on 38 minutes. Stuart Tulloch cut in from the left, took advantage of the confusion in the Ossett defence and squared the ball to Ian Barker to tap home from close range.

The lead lasted just seven minutes as Ossett deservedly levelled on the stroke of half-time. A deep free kick was headed goalwards by Fretwell and, despite the best efforts of Tulloch, the ball found its way into the net.

Dale almost regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Tulloch's cross was only partially dealt with by keeper Andrew Carney and Dean Cooper's shot was cleared off the line.

From that clearance, the visitors broke quickly down the right and Toronczak scored with a low shot past Molyneaux.

The third arrived on 63 minutes. Another break down the right saw Toronczak take advantage of some weak defending to double his tally and the visitors' lead.

Jamie Baguley gave Dale some hope five minutes later as his deflected effort found the top corner to reduce the arrears, and Carney was forced to make a good save at Cooper's feet a minute later to prevent an equaliser.

The returning Chris Brooks had a golden chance to level the scores in injury time but he headed over from six yards from Baguley's cross.

The final act of the match saw Molyneaux deny Toronczak a hat-trick with another good save low to his right.