ROSSENDALE edged out their Yorkshire visitors in this highly entertaining game which produced seven goals.

The goal tally could have been more but both sides were guilty of wasting good chances as neither defence got to grips with their opposing forwards.

Dale set off the better and Mark Sanderson had already denied Craig Sargeson before Kevin Holliday opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a neat finish after being put clear by Gary Williams.

Farsley gradually came more into the game and Scott Jackson should have equalised from close range, but his shot was straight at keeper John Gillies.

The visitors drew level on 26 minutes, Danny Spence cutting in from the left and firing a 25 yard shot into the bottom corner.

Within a minute Dale were back in front. Ged Smith's shot deflected into the path of Chris Brooks and the midfielder scored his 11th of the season from close range. The lead should have been doubled before the interval, Williams missing a sitter after Carl Stamford had laid the ball to him with the keeper out of his goal.

Farsley came out after the break with more purpose and they squandered four great chances in the opening five minutes as Ian Blackstone and Jackson were both wasteful when in on goal.

The visitors were made to pay in the 52nd minute when Holliday's low cross evaded everyone in the penalty area and went in off the far post.

Three minutes later Jackson made it 3-2 with a neat finish, but Brooks made it three goals in five minutes heading into an empty net after more fine work from Stamford.

Stuart Beech pulled a goal back to make it 4-3 with quarter of an hour remaining, but it was Dale who should have added to their score at the death, substitutes Brian Burns and Brad Pates both missing clear-cut chances to finish the visitors off.