Rossendale 2 Stocksbridge PS 3

THERE must be something in the half-time brew at Dark Lane this season.

As has been the case in a number of games so far, Rossendale were in control of the game at the interval only to produce a second half performance which was dire at best.

The Valley side held a two-goal lead at the break and looked like recording their first win under Ashley Hoskin's control against a poor Stocksbridge outfit.

Unfortunately, the all too familiar second half collapse materialised with the visitors banging in three goals in 20 minutes. And, but for keeper Mark Molyneaux, it could have been a lot worse.

Stocksbridge could have been three ahead inside the opening 10 minutes. The impressive Ross Hannah almost capitalised on some hesitant defending, but his effort drifted wide, and Molyneaux made two superb saves to deny Alvin Riley and Andy Ring.

Dale started to drag themselves into the game and Peter Corvino saw his shot deflected just wide. It was the former Blackburn player who opened the scoring on 18 minutes, reacting quickest to Danny Whittaker's cross by side footing the ball past Richard Siddall into the bottom corner.

Spurred on by the opener, Dale piled on the pressure, Corvino went close twice more, his second effort cleared off the line, and Gareth Gardner saw a goal-bound effort blocked.

Gardner wasn't to be denied though and he doubled the lead 10 minutes before the break. The Dale winger cut inside, beating three men, before shooting low past Siddall.

Molyneaux produced two more excellent saves from Ring to keep the lead in tact at the break. But it was downhill from then on.

Ring pulled one back five minutes into the second half after the Dale defence failed to cope with a Duncan Richards cross.

And the scores were level just before the hour as Hannah fired home after a quick free kick caught Dale napping.

It was 3-2 on 65 minutes, Wayne Bullimore scoring from the penalty spot following Whittaker's hand ball, and the Dale faithful began to fear the worst.

Molyneaux once again did his bit, saving from Hannah and Ring.

At the other end, Gardner saw a shot tipped over by Siddall as Dale strived for an equaliser, but one never seemed likely and next Saturday's game against Spalding United could well be make or break for beleaguered Rossendale boss Hoskin.