ROSSENDALE completed their pre-season warm-up against UniBond Premier side Burscough ahead of the start of their UniBond First Division campaign next Saturday.

For the opening 45 minutes, Dale held their own and felt aggrieved they weren't in front after Craig Sargeson was hauled down in the box. Instead of a penalty, Dale were awarded a free kick.

Jerome Fitzgerald smashed the ball into the top corner of the net but the referee awarded a retake and the same player then rattled the post.

Buscough stepped up a gear in the second half and went ahead within 10 minutes of the restart.

But Dale battled back and Sargeson levelled the game with a neat finish just a minute later.

Burscough then took over and scored within two minutes of the equaliser to put themselves back in front and could have had more but for some resolute defending.

And it looked like Dale would grab an equaliser when Paddy Lauber broke away and ended a fine run with a fierce low shot which the keeper managed to save.

RESULT: ROSSENDALE 1... BURSCOUGH 2