The Youth Team were 1-0 winners over Walsall in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

Neil Kuemo’s goal decided matters, in a game Dale had the better of without ever looking troubled.

They almost took the lead straight from kick-off, Luke Matheson found Fabio Tavares who returned the ball to the full-back.

He delivered a superb cross to the back post for Kuemo, but the forward misjudged his effort from a couple of yards out, allowing the goalkeeper to collect comfortably.

Kuemo grabbed the only goal just five minutes in though, when his cross deceived goalkeeper and defender as they both went for it and missed, allowing the ball to bounce over the line at the far post.

Dale had chances to extend the lead, the closest of which came from Kuemo. Daniel Adshead’s flick over a defender fell to him on the edge of the area, and his finely executed turn and shot on the half volley rattled the crossbar with minutes remaining.

The victory means the Youth Team are now six points behind leaders Wigan Athletic, but with three games in hand.

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