Curzon's play-off hopes took a dent as they were humbled by bottom side Rossendale.

The Stags outbattled Curzon, rode their luck and then hit the Blues three times on the break.

The match began at a frantic pace with Curzon being given no time to settle; consequently most attacks started with hopeful balls forward rather than any creative play but it was Curzon who had the better first-half chances.

In the second minute a defender just got in front of Chris Curley to clear a dangerous cross before Mike Norton’s shot was well saved by Tom Brocklehurst at the second attempt.

On 18 minutes they made the breakthrough when Phil Edghill got away down the left.

His cross was only cleared as far as Chris Worsley who volleyed home the rebound from the edge of the box.

Chris Curley saw an effort well saved and Luke Mack was denied when the keeper paddled his shot around the post.

The Blues had defended well in the first half and it took until the 41st minute for Michael Hale to be called into action, getting down well to smother a shot from Ellis.

At half-time Gary Lowe decided he had to change things and replaced Dean Canning and Chris Worsley with Michael O’Connor and Luke Morgan.

It looked like the changes were going to pay dividends as Curzon were virtually camped in the Rossendale half for the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Brocklehurst thwarted Norton, Edghill’s penalty appeals were turned down and Sam Heap then headed away Morgan’s piledriver.

Just as it seemed inevitable that Curzon would increase their lead Rossendale scored from nothing when Walsh caught out Danny Birch, whose square pass left Danny Ellis to find the empty net.

The goal inspired Rossendale and they took the lead with 12 minutes left when Daniel Shannon broke the offside trap and coolly placed the ball past Hale.

Rossendale increased their lead with four minutes remaining when Shannon again beat the offside trap and ran clear before placing the ball past the stranded keeper.

Attendance: 95