DENIS Underwood kept his second consecutive clean sheet to deny Dale a deserved victory in last night's derby clash at The Showground.

The Harwood boss was forced out of retirement on the eve of the new season following Andy Johnson's shock departure to Ashton United.

But the veteran keeper showed he still has what it takes with a couple of fine stops to keep an impressive United side at bay.

Dale dominated a first half in which Steve Carling had a rasping shot hacked off the line by Andy Clarkson while lively front man Craig Sargeson fired another effort just over the bar.

Harwood's only chance in the opening 45 minutes fell to Warren Peake but his header flew inches wide.

After the break, United stepped up a gear and pinned the home side in their own half for long spells.

Jim McCluskie nearly broke the deadlock with a neat turn and shot on the edge of the box but Underwood clawed his effort around the post.

Then, in the dying seconds, Sargeson looked to have snatched the points but his bullet header from Paul Daughtry's right-wing centre came back off the bar.

"I think I'll be happier with the result than Micky Graham," said Underwood.

"It was a tough game and Rossendale are a lot better side than they were last year.

"But for all their pressure I had a very little to do because we defended brilliantly and the lads in front of me gave me a lot of protection."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.