Game won after storming start

Last updated : 01 April 2009 By Tony Scholes
Alex MacDonald
Alex MacDonald - two goals
Rossendale United's Dark Lane can be a bit of a desperate place in the bleak weather of the winter but as April came in without it's traditional showers it was a pleasant afternoon, and I'm told that the lunchtime fare of pie and peas was a good appetiser for the game.

We started brightly enough with most of the play directed towards the Rochdale goal but there was no real sign of the blast of goals to come. The first came after the impressive Dan Brown made a run forward only to be brought down inside the box.

The referee had the easiest of tasks in pointing to the spot and the Scotland Under-17 captain with the Warrington accent Alex MacDonald converted with ease.

A goal up, and there was much more to come. A through ball found Wes Fletcher one-on-one with the keeper and those who watch the reserves and youths regularly know what to expect in that situation. New professional Wes made no mistake, placing his shot into the corner to the keeper's left.

The watching scouts, which included former Burnley manager Jimmy Mullen, had hardly written their notes when Michael King played in James Craggs who made it three via the far post.

As is so often the case after an avalanche of goals like that, it all dried up and for long periods the game was scrappy. But we were never in danger of surrendering the lead.

Macca made it four deep into the second half with a well taken goal, making space for himself inside the box to get his shot in, and then 'Dale got a goal of their own to complete the scoring.

We'd some good performances throughout the team, but I have to make special mention of Brown and Craggs. Having been told only yesterday that they were being released by the club I thought it showed great character to go out there this afternoon and play again. Well done to both of them.

And it was good to see Jimmy Mullen again, I think that's the first time I've seen him since he left the Clarets over thirteen years ago.

The teams this afternoon were;

Rochdale: Sam Russell, George Bowyer, Joshua Brizell, Callum Byrne, Alex Mallion, Christopher Brown, Andrew Brown, Liam Murray, Dennis Sheriff, Joseph Reidy, Thomas Buckley. Subs: Daniel Tabener, Christopher Beech.

Burnley: Diego Penny, Dan Brown, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Jake McEneaney, Alex MacDonald, Chris Anderson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Michael King, Wes Fletcher (Dom Knowles), James Craggs. Subs not used: Stef Ritchie, Dil Chaggar, Liam Newman, Oliver Devenney.