TWO mistakes and a fluke are the reasons why Rossendale left title chasing Stocksbridge with nothing from Saturday's hard fought encounter.

After dragging themselves back from two down early on to be level at the break, Dale failed to take advantage and produced a lacklustre second half display.

With former Clitheroe goalkeeper Ray Francis making his debut for the suspended N'djebayi the Dale back line looked hesitant and a mix-up allowed Goddard to score the opening goal just four minutes in.

It looked like Francis would collect an innocuous throughball, but he hesitated, allowing the striker to nip in to roll the ball into an empty net.

The keeper redeemed himself with a superb save to deny Zoll shortly after, but he could do little in the 15th minute when McLean's left wing cross caught the strong wind and the ball flew over him into the far corner of the net.

The wind was causing plenty of problems and Mark Drew almost caught out Hodgson with a free kick of his own, the keeper scrambling back to turn the ball over the bar.

Dale thought they had pulled a goal back in the 28th minute but Phil Eastwood was denied by the assistant's flag after a neat lob over the keeper, but they weren't to be denied and did halve the deficit in the 32nd minute.

Adam Cook, who was a constant threat down the left, fired a cross over to the far post and Daniel Warrender opened his Rossendale account with a thumping shot which gave the keeper no chance.

Dale then levelled three minutes later when Joe Booth crossed to give Neil Zarac the simplest of finishes from six yards.

Despite finishing the opening half on the back foot, it was Stocksbridge who came out on top for the second.

Colliver had a good chance which he screwed well wide, but it was another error which handed them the lead in the 53rd minute.

Dale lost the ball on the left wing and a quick break and Heywood's missed tackle left Zoll in the clear to score with his right foot.

Matt Edgington was introduced to give the attack more pace and width, but in truth Dale failed to use the winger and he was left fighting a losing battle.

Zarac had a great chance for his second equaliser but saw his shot blocked, and Francis produced a good double save from Zoll and Goddard to prevent a fourth for the home side.

The last 15 minutes drifted away with little to excite either set of supporters apart from a couple of speculative efforts from distance which failed to trouble either keeper as Dale lost a bit of ground on their fight for the play offs.