MARK Patterson's wonder goal proved the saviour for Rossendale but they have to do it all at Bedworth om Tuesday night in the FA Trophy first round replay.

The former Rovers and Bolton midfielder scored the goal of the game when he broke forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot which flew into the top corner of the net to make it 3-3.

But Dale chief Jim McCluskie will be unhappy that his side threw away a two-goal lead against the Dr Martens side.

It was Dale's first game in the FA Trophy since the 1982/83 season and they started strongly with Patterson firing a shot just wide of the visitors' post.

In the 14th minute, following good work by Jason Heffernan, Danny Heyes put in a cross from the left wing which Scope in the Bedworth goal could only palm out and Dale's leading scorer Craig Sargeson was left with a simple header to make it 1-0.

Sargeson struck again in the 23rd minute when he glanced home another headed goal, this time from a Steve Cunningham cross on the opposite wing.

Dale continued to press forward and Cunningham saw a 30 yard shot whistle past the upright with the keeper nowhere.

On the stroke of half time, Bedworth were back in the game when Craig Whitmore lost his marker on the edge of the box and fired a low drive past Dale keeper Mike Allison.

Two minutes after the restart, Bedworth equalised when Heffernan lost possession on the edge of the box and the visitors' leading scorer Chris Partidge took full advantage to level the scores.

The Rossendale defence began to look on edge and on 61 minutes Partridge put Bedworth in front when he took advantage of some sloppy defending.

But Dale fought back and Patterson scored the goal of the game to make it all-square once again.

And Chris Willcocks had a golden opportunity to send Dale into the next round in the 77th minute but he put his shot just wide of the far post.

ROSSENDALE UNITED...3

BEDWORTH UNITED...3