ROSSENDALE boss Jim McCluskie was gutted as derby rivals Chorley all but ended their UniBond First Division play-off hopes.

Dale needed to win their three remaining games to keep in the hunt for a top five spot but three late goals by the resurgent Magpies left them only with a slender hope - needing to win their final two games and hope other sides slip up dramatically.

And once again it was a missed penalty which proved their downfall.

"It was our fourth penalty miss out of four," moaned the Dale chief.

"If that had gone in it would have changed the game.

"But you have got to take your chances and they did.

"Now we have to win our last two games and just see what happens."

The score was 0-0 when Ian Leather upended Gareth Gardiner in the area on 28 minutes.

Star striker Craig Sargeson missed two penalties in one game on April 13 and last time out Accrington Stanley's on-loan man Paul Howarth failed to convert a spot kick.

So this time the gaffer called upon Jerome Fitzgerald to do the business - but he shot straight at Magpies keeper Simon Marsh.

"I couldn't believe it," admitted McCluskie.

Dale did have other first half chances to give themselves an ealry boost.

Howarth missed a chance in the first minute and Paul Lynch dragged a long range effort wide of the goal.

The home side then had appeals for a penalty turned down as Paul Varley appeared to handle Sargeson's cross-shot but their protests were waved away.

Then came the spot kick drama.

But Dale did also have highly-rated goalkeeper Mark Andrews to thank for keeping a clean sheet by half time.

He pulled off a great save from Joe Murray and stopped top scorer Andy Mason with a stunning low save.

McCluskie threw on striker Carl Howarth - recalled from NWCL Division Two side Nelson because of Dale's injury problems - after the break and he looked lively.

Sargeson fired just wide from eight yards out while Carl Howarth had a great one-two with Gardiner on the edge of the area but his final shot was inches off-target.

And Gardiner's low cross was scrambled away from the advancing Paul Howarth.

Dale were the made to pay for their poor finishing as Chorley took over for the final 20 minutes in their last game of this campaign - and with boss Mark Molyneaux giving his players the final chance to seal a spot for next season.

Star man Darren Emmett tried to catch out Andrews with a cheeky chip and Mason was denied by a point-blank save from the Dale keeper.

But Marsh was also in action - superbly saving Sargeson's curling effort with one hand.

Then on 76 minutes Chorley made the breakthrough. Emmett broke down the middle, Andrews couldn't hold onto his effort and it fell to Mason who made it 29 for the season.

Dale almost replied immediately but Gardiner's shot was saved by Marsh and the follow-up was cleared off the line - although the flag was by that time up.

The killer second came on 82 minutes. Sub Chris Clarke's free kick on the half way line was charged down, Murray broke to the by-line and pulled it back for sub Danny Mills to fire home through a number of bodies.

To add to McCluskie's fury, Clarke was dismissed just seven minutes after entering the fray for dissent - protesting the free kick should have been retaken.

Emmett then fired wide across the goal as he went for number three and Gardiner could have pulled one back at the other end but his deflected effort hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the relieved Marsh's arms.

Then Chorley added to Dale's woes with virtually the last kick of the game. Emmett's free kick found the head of Ian Barker who made no mistake.

Now Rossendale make the trip to fellow high-fliers Ashton tomorrow desperate for a win with Trafford visiting Dark Lane on Friday night in their final game of the season.

ROSSENDALE UNITED...0 CHORLEY...3