ROSSENDALE came out on top in this game between the two newly promoted teams to the UniBond First Division, but they were pushed all the way by a hard-working Ossett outfit.

The visitors started brightly, no doubt being spurred on by recent good results, and Danny Toronczak should have done better when he shot wide on four minutes.

Rossendale started to get on top, a lucky ricochet fell at the feet of Carl Howarth and his shot was well waved by Andy Carney.

Former Burnley striker Brendan O'Connell, playing his second game for the Dark Lane side, should have opened the scoring on 20 minutes.

He linked well with another new face Colin Greenhall, both signed together after they were released from coaching posts at Wigan Athletic, but Greenall's shot was well saved.

The ball looped to O'Connell whose header hit the post with an open goal at his mercy.

The opening goal came 10 minutes after the break, Darren Bowman's cross was headed home by Steve Cunningham who gave Carney no chance - his fourth goal of the campaign.

Two minutes later the home side thought they had doubled their lead, but Richard Harris' header was harshly ruled out for a foul on the keeper.

The visitors stepped up their game and had plenty of possession, but their final ball let them down and Dale keeper Mark Allison had little to deal with.

It was left to Gareth Gardiner to seal the points in the final minute slotting home from a narrow angle after his initial shot had been saved.

It was Dale's first league win for four games - after three successive league losses - and keeps them in among the early pacesetters.

ROSSENDALE UTD...2 OSSETT ALBION...0