ROSSENDALE UTD... 1 BELPER TOWN...1

BOTH sides needed a win to boost their chances of a place in the Premier Division next season and a point apiece was little use to either side.

With three points a priority for the two teams, an attacking game was on the cards, but it did not turn out that way during an uninspiring first half.

Belper knocked the ball around with confidence but produce little that troubled the Rossendale defence.

Any chances created came the way of the home side as Doni Clarke, Ian Barker and Chris Brookes were just wide of goal with efforts that deserved more.

A defensive mix up on 25 minutes almost saw Dale fall behind. Thornhill found himself with an open goal but his effort hit the side-netting.

In the second half Rossendale began to get a grip of the game.

They took the lead after 59 minutes, Chris Brookes broke wide on the right and his cross was hammered into the roof of the net by Doni Clarke.

Dale then went in search of a second goal that would have killed off the game and Blake Norton was unlucky to see his header well saved by Gary Ingham in the Belper goal.

Despite all their possession Dale failed to increase their lead and paid the price with four minutes remaining.

Sean Gummer's tame shot somehow found its way into the far corner of the net and the Belper forward should have put his side in the lead two minutes later.

With the win vital to Rossendale, they went on all out attack to try for the much needed goal and the three points.

There were injury time efforts by Norton, Brookes and Phil Lockett were scrambled away as Belper held on.