The Youth Team were convincing 6-2 winners over Blackpool in horrendous conditions at Myerscough College on Saturday, in their final fixture of 2018.

Goals from Harrison Hopper and Fabio Tavares helped Dale to a 2-1 lead at half-time, before another from Tavares, plus goals from Juwon Hamzat, Louis White and Florian Yonsian, wrapped up an emphatic win.

The deadlock was broken in fortuitous circumstances when the Blackpool goalkeeper struck a clearance against Hopper who was closing down, with the ball rebounding into the back of the net.

The stopper made amends just a minute later, making a superb fingertip save to deny Hopper a second.

He was helpless to prevent Tavares doubling the lead three minutes afterwards, as the Dale forward converted Yonsian’s square ball clinically.

Andy Kanga struck the foot of the post for the hosts, with his rebound well saved by the feet of Dale stopper Brad Wade, who then made another strong stop to deny Nathan Shaw’s fierce effort.

Lewis Bradley sent a low effort narrowly past the far post, before Tavares struck the woodwork moments later.

Hopper was again denied by goalkeeper Sam Kellett, before Blackpool halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time, as Shaw’s powerful low effort found the bottom corner.

Dale took less than five minutes to restore their two-goal cushion after the break as Tavares smashed home a rebound from Bradley’s well saved effort.

But the hosts got back within one again, as Shaw grabbed his second, finishing at the near post.

The game was in the balance until Hamzat netted Dale’s fourth, poking home from six-yards after a corner caused problems as it swirled in the blowing gale.

White scored a stunning free-kick to make it 5-2, his unsaveable effort from 30-yards curling into the top corner.

And Yonsian rounded off the scoring with Dale’s sixth, turning home a close-range rebound after Hopper had seen a header saved.