Rochdale’s under 18 side got their pre-season schedule off to a start on Saturday with a trip to face Preston North End.
The Lilywhites were 4-2 winners at the UCLan Sports Arena.
Dale had taken the lead just three minutes into the game after Japhet Mata dispossessed the PNE full back and finished into the top left hand corner.
It was the only goal of the half and Rochdale took the lead into the interval.
The home side equalised 10 minutes after the re-start, before Matthew Gillam regained the lead for Dale in the 66th minute. He latched onto the end of Kisimba Kisimba’s 40-yard diagonal pass and coolly slotted into the back of the net after taking on the defender.
Three Preston North End goals in the closing stages of the match (79, 83 and 87 minutes) saw them emerge victorious.
Starting XI: Trialist, Schorah, Chea, Hollins, Coyne, Kisimba, Morley, Mata, Prescott, Stewart, Gillam. Subs: Smalley, Evans, Price, Pigott, Lenehan.
Dale are back in action on Wednesday evening when they face New Mills FC at Church Lane - 7.30pm kick-off.