ROSSENDALE and Leigh produced a classic Lancashire Marsden Trophy second round tie on what can be best described as a dreadful playing surface.
Dale more than matched their Conference opponents, taking them to extra time, and can count themselves unfortunate to end up losing this seven-goal thriller.
Both sides created early chances, Matt Houldsworth firing narrowly wide for Dale just six minutes in.
Jerome Fitzgerald then went close with a looping header, and it was his cross on 23 minutes which led to the opening goal. Troy Hayder's flick header was tipped onto the bar by Dootson and former Leigh player Richard Harris had the simplest of finishes, heading home the rebound.
Leigh's first real strike brought the equaliser, Maamria heading home at the back post from a left wing cross.
Craig Sargeson almost reclaimed the lead for Dale just before the break but his deflected shot was pushed round the post by the keeper.
Jordan Rispin replaced the injured Harris at half time and, just five minutes in the young sub brought down Twiss in the area and Maamria converted the spot kick with ease.
Dale drew level on 54 minutes, Sargeson's low cross was knocked home from six yards by the sliding Fitzgerald.
Dale dominated the next quarter of an hour creating several chances to take the lead. Lynch had a shot well saved, Fitzgerald was denied by Dootson, Lee Fitzpatrick had his shot deflected wide, and Gareth Gardiner missed the target .
Both sides could have snatched a winner in the closing stages of normal time, Sargeson delayed his shot when put through and was closed down, and Mark Andrews produced two fine saves to deny Maamria and Ridings to leave the score 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Legs tired on the heavy pitch during extra time and play became ragged. Dale re-took the lead in the 105th minute. Heffernan's low cross was diverted onto the post by Sargeson, but the young forward calmly knocked home the rebound.
Maamria then completed his hat-trick on 108 minutes and the Leigh winner arrived with nine minutes left. Tony Black ran through midfield before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner giving Andrews no chance.
Despite heavy Dale pressure they couldn't find a way through an increasingly desperate Leigh defence, Sargeson coming closest to equalising, narrowly missing the target with their best efforts.
LEIGH RMI...4 ROSSENDALE UTD...3 (aet)
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