ROSSENDALE let a two-goal lead slip before going behind and then eventually taking a point in this six-goal UniBond first division thriller.

On 23 minutes, Gary Williams took on the Matlock defence, squared to Chris Brooks who calmly steered the ball inside the post.

Rossendale were looking impressive with further crosses from Williams and Gardner being scrambled away.

Dale suffered a blow when Williams had to be substituted following a collision with Tye in the Matlock goal but with the half time whistle approaching a clearance by Mark Andrews in the Rossendale goal was flicked on to Craig Sargeson who spotted the keeper off his line and coolly lobbed the ball into the empty net.

Deep into injury time Matlock should have pulled a goal back when a Chris Scott back pass was presented to Danny Holland but he blazed over.

Matlock started the second half looking to get back into the game and it took a bizarre goal. Holland lobbed a ball, taking everyone by surprise, and it gently rolled into the net.

This spurred Matlock on and 10 minutes later Brown broke free to put the match all square with a crisp finish.

As the referee indicated three minutes of extra time, Brown was again allowed too much space and he took full advantage to put Matlock in the lead.

But Dale threw everything forward in the dying seconds when Brooks was fouled in the box and Sargeson stepped up and smashed the resulting penalty past Tye.

MATLOCK TOWN...3

ROSSENDALE UTD...3