Rolls cry robbery

Rolls regarded their trip to fellow strugglers Pinxton as a crucial 'six-pointer' in their fight against relegation.

But in the end they were cursing the circumstances behind a 2-1 defeat that leaves them two points adrift at the foot of the table as the season approaches its halfway stage.

Rolls were leading, and looking as if they would comfortably hold on, when the referee intervened to award a spot-kick for what appeared to be a fair tackle by centre-back Adam Sneddon.

Mark Downing converted to equalise for Pinxton, who then added insult to injury when snatching another goal in the dying seconds. This time a shot was parried by goalkeeper Mark Beaumont and the ball fell to Downing, who tapped home the rebound.

Rolls had deservedly gone in front two minutes from the end of a scrappy first half when Andy Start converted from close range after a corner by Jonty Bradshaw.

Earlier Zeke Jenkins had gone close twice and Start had seen an effort blocked. But Pinxton also had their moments with a free header put wide and Beaumont pulling off a good save.

The goal gave Rolls the confidence to push on for a second and they nearly got it when the home 'keeper recovered just in time to tip a deflected shot over the bar.

Then, early in the second half, Jeremy Millensted was again denied by the 'keeper before Start just failed to get on the end of a cross by Bradshaw.

The biggest let-off for Pinxton, though, came midway through the half when Start produced a terrific turn in the box, only to see his effort come back off the bar.

ROLLS LINE-UP (4-4-2) – Beaumont/ Warden Burke J. Sneddon Jenkins/ Brown J. McShane Campbell Bradshaw/ Start A. Millensted. Subs: Cheetham J. (for Warden 20), Yeomans (for McShane 70), Carrington L.