The Youth Team ran out 5-2 winners over Shrewsbury Town in the EFL North West Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

Dale raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time, thanks to goals from Louis White, Fabio Tavares and Lewis Bradley.

An own goal made it four after the break, before two goals from the visitors sandwiched a Florian Yonsian strike.

It took just eight minutes for Dale to break the deadlock. After Tavares had seen an effort deflected over the crossbar, the resulting corner was laid off to White.

He sent a well-struck half-volley goalwards, which took a deflection off a Shrewsbury defender, and looped over the goalkeeper to put Dale ahead.

Moments after Morgan Piper had tipped a Shrewsbury effort over the bar, Tavares doubled the lead.

Yonsian pinched the ball off a defender, drove into the box and squared for the unmarked Tavares, who swept home from ten yards.

A fine move led to Luke Matheson putting in a dangerous ball from the right which was inches away from being tuned home, before Yonsian glanced Joe Dunne’s cross narrowly over the bar.

Dale entered half-time with a three-goal cushion, when Bradley clinically converted from the penalty spot after he was brought down whilst in full flight on a driving run.

Five minutes after the break it was four, when Toby Phillips’ dangerous cross was headed into the back of the net by a Shrews defender.

The visitors pulled a goal back when Jamaine Turner slotted a low effort in off the far post, but Yonsian restored the four-goal lead.

Tavares dispossessed a defender and drove forward before squaring for Yonsian to turn home into an empty net.

Shrewsbury substitute Lifumpa Mwandwe pulled a goal back, finishing high at the near post after latching on to a diagonal ball, whilst Tavares had a one-on-one effort saved late on as he was played in by substitute Louie Clarkson.

Dale XI | Piper, Matheson, Neild, Hamzat, Dunne, White, Hoti, Phillips, Bradley, Tavares, Yonsian.

Subs | Chalton, Martin, Clarkson, Chorlton, Moreland.