Ramsbottom United 3 Rossendale United 2

RAMSBOTTOM staged a late show to steal all three points from their near neighbours and severely dented Rossendale's hopes of clinching runners-up spot in the FNWTL First Division.

Wayne Briddon headed the winner just eight minutes from time as the Rams, fourth before the kick-off, aim to finish as high up the table as possible.

In an entertaining match, Ramsbottom were the first to show with Steve Orrell bringing a save out of Mark Andrews.

It was the visitors, however, who grabbed an early lead on six minutes when Matt Anderton headed home Jason Heffernan's free kick.

Rossendale looked like increasing their tally midway through the first half when hot-shot striker Craig Sargeson threatened down the middle but good defending by Warren Brierley and Neil Wallace cleared the danger.

The Rams constantly fell foul of Rossendale's offside trap and the Dark Lane's central defenders, Matt Holdsworth and Anderton, kept on top in the aerial battle.

Ramsbottom started the second half in promising style as Mike Langhorn's cross was headed back by Danny Goodall but Russell Brierley's overhead kick flew well over the bar.

But Rossendale went two up on 53 minutes when Jon Parrott could only parry a low cross shot and Sargeson showed his predatory instincts by pouncing on the rebound. The Rams refused to give it up, however, and six minutes later they reduced the arrears when Brierley played in Orrell who beat Andrews with a quality finish.

Then, in a remarkable turnaround, it was all square on 62 minutes. David Yorke-Robinson found Brierley who knocked the ball down and shrugged off two defenders before shooting past Andrews.

As the Rams pressed for a winner, Andrews kept his side level with a tremendous double save, first from Langhorn then Yorke-Robinson's follow-up.

In a frantic finale, both sides had chances to win it as Dale substitute Shaun Bursnell fired just over before Heffernan then hacked an Orrell effort off the line at the opposite end.

But the winner finally arrived with just eight minutes left when Briddon met a Langhorn corner with a powerful header to steal the points.