Dale were beaten 3-1 at Aldershot Town on Saturday afternoon.

After conceding early, Ian Henderson equalised for Dale with his 11^th of the season within four minutes.

However, a goal either side of the break for the hosts saw them take all three points.

Goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks made his Dale debut, after joining on loan from Notts County over a week ago. D’Mani Mellor, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, began his second spell at the club in the starting line-up.

Dale fell behind inside six minutes when a ball over the top was latched on to by Jack Barham, whose scuffed shot fell fortunately for Lorent Tolaj to tap home at the back post.

However, The Shots’ lead lasted less than five minutes. Ethan Ebanks-Landell spotted the run of Henderson and clipped a great ball forward for him to run on to. He brought it down on his chest before finishing coolly beyond Jordi van Stappershoef for his 147^th Dale goal.

There were claims for Dale penalty two minutes later when Tyrese Sinclair went down under a challenge, but the referee waved away the shouts.

Tolaj dragged a shot wide for the hosts before Kyron Gordon saw a shot deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner, Finlay Armstrong glanced a header wide of the far post which was turned behind for another set-piece, that was drilled to Gordon, who shot over.

Debutant Brooks stayed big to turn behind a shot from Ryan Glover at the near post, before substitute Tyler Frost’s header was comfortably held by the stopper.

However, he was beaten one minute before the break, from the penalty spot. Max Taylor brought down Stuart O’Keefe in the box and Cian Harries stepped up to slot home the resulting spot kick.

There was one more chance before the break, but Sinclair’s curling free-kick from just outside the area dipped narrowly over.

Dale were the first to create a chance after the restart too, when Harvey Gilmour’s first-time effort, following East’s layoff, was held by the home goalkeeper.

At the other end, Brooks made a fine save, diving to his left, to beat away Josh Stokes’ dipping shot, before Tolaj crashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

That spell of pressure from the hosts resulted in their third, when Barham received the ball in the area and slotted home off the inside of the far post.

Brooks was forced into action a couple of times in the second-half, denying Barham and Tolaj from adding to their tallies, whilst Stokes curled a shot over the bar.

Dale saw a lot of the ball in the closing stages but weren’t able to craft out a clear cut chance, as the hosts held on to win 3-1.

Dale XI | Brooks, Gordon (80’ Keohane), Taylor (45’ Ferguson), Ebanks-Landell, Armstrong, John (55’ Uchegbulam), Gilmour, Mellor, Sinclair, East, Henderson.

Unused subs | Edwards, Burgess.