Star date: 16th March 2010 

Rossendale United 1 Salford City 1

HILLBILLY HEIST

Another game, another draw, another team escapes the claws of Salford City when they should have been mauled like an old possum.

Match report here…

FUN IN THE HILLS

`You've got more stewards than fans…You've got more stewards than fans…You've got more stewards than fans…'

Everywhere at Rossendale's ground there were yellow vested stewards. Loads of them…girl stewards, boy stewards, old stewards, young stewards. Loads of them, all over the place.

Was it the terrifying thought of Salford City's 25 away fans wrecking the place and nicking the pies that had brought such a massive show of defence for the home fans? Er, no. They were all part of an NVQ course in stewarding, doing their work placement. Not that they had much stewarding to do, particularly with the pathetic turnout from the home fans. Was the Beverley Hillbillies on telly? Or a repeat of The Wickerman or something?

And those who did turn up were deathly quiet, even when Rossendale opened the scoring after 17 minutes following a free kick, a knock on and a knock in past Salford keeper Andy Robertson, in an almost carbon copy repeat of Warrington Town's goal against us last Saturday.

Salford were level just over a quarter of an hour later when Rhodri Giggs went on a jinking run into the Rossendale area, only to be jinked over for a penalty. He got up, brushed himself down and dispatched the spot kick for his zillionth and one goal of the season. Giggs was on target again, shortly before half time but his top lob over the keeper was ruled out for offside.

Offsides also dominated the second half, via a liner who couldn't keep his flag down each time Salford attacked. And what seemed like a perfectly good goal squeezed in at the far post was ruled out by the over fussy officials. Smiles were kept on Salford fans' faces, however, by the Rossendale keeper, who launched a million goal kicks into touch…by the end he was laughing too at his own banana kicks.

Meanwhile, the ever impressive Lewis Nightingale was hauled down for what should have been a second Salford penalty. Not to be. And Salford had to be content with a single point. It leaves the Ammies inching away from the danger zone and Rossendale still rock bottom of the league, with their library quiet fans adding to the doom and gloom. Even Rossendale's ground is in Dark Lane.

Photos by Andrew Goudie