The Youth Team hit Preston North End for six with a comprehensive 6-1 victory in the EFL North West Youth Alliance League.

Dale were 5-0 up by half-time, thanks to a double from Florian Yonsian, plus goals from Fabio Tavares, James Neild and Harrison Hopper.

The hosts, who had been reduced to ten men in the first-half, pulled a goal back after the break, before Hopper grabbed his second late on.

Yonsian opened the scoring within five minutes, when he received Florent Hoti’s pass, cut inside onto his left foot and curled a stunning effort into the far corner beyond goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran.

Yonsian doubled his tally and the lead little over a minute later. Tavares saw a shot from the edge of the area saved, but only into the path of Yonsian who turned home six-yards out.

Dale were dominant and Hoti saw a clipped free-kick spilt by Corcoran, before he supplied the third.

His corner to the near post was met by Neild, who fired home with a crisp finish.

Preston were reduced to ten men three minutes later when Charlie Lyons was given a straight red card for a foul on Yonsian, and Dale made the man advantage pay further.

Yonsian played a through ball to Tavares who had an initial effort saved, but he was alert enough to power home the rebound.

Hopper grabbed Dale’s fifth before the break after a great team move. The ball was worked out to the left and he met Joe Dunne’s cross, powering home a header from just inside the area.

Tavares had the ball in the back of the net against four minutes before half-time but was judged to be offside from Hoti’s through ball, but Dale continued to dominate after the break.

Luke Matheson saw a low effort well saved after being found by Lewis Bradley, before Bradley himself was unlucky to strike the upright.

Bradley, Tavares and Hoti all fired off target before the hosts pulled one back through Jack Baxter, who fired in low from just inside the area.

Goalkeeper Brad Wade made a good strong save from Ethan Walker as the hosts rallied, but Dale came back at the home side again in the closing stages.

Juwon Hamzat crashed an effort off the underside of the bar when a corner ran loose in the penalty area.

Substitute Musambya Kisimba had a shot saved after latching onto Wade’s long pass over the top, before Hopper turned Toby Phillips’ ball off the crossbar.

However, Hopper made no mistake a minute later, turning home Dunne’s low ball to complete the scoring and round-off a superb display.