Johny Diba saved three spot kicks as Rochdale progressed to the next round of the Lancashire Senior Cup following a penalty shoot-out win over Fleetwood Town on Tuesday afternoon at Racliffe Borough.
Dale's under 18 side lined up against a Cod Army starting eleven which included experienced left-back Stephen Crainey.
The teams went in level at the interval after failing to break the deadlock. Dale went on to open the scoring nine minutes after the re-start through a Fleetwood Town own goal. Kisimba Kisimba's brilliant pass found Billy Hasler-Cregg, whose shot across goal took a deflection off an opposition player, sending the ball into the back of the net.
The visitors equalised in the 75th minute when Adam Nditi's long range effort was parried into the path of Mamadou Djabi, who smashed home on the re-bound.
The game went straight to penalties, with Johny Diba proving to be the match winner for Rochdale. The young 'keeper saved three spot kicks, ensuring Dale progressed to the next round with a 3-1 penalty shoot out win. James Hooper, Dom Reid and Omar Sinclair were on target for Rochdale in the spot-kick victory.
Dale will now face Blackpool in the next round. The date has yet to be confirmed.
Rochdale XI v Fleetwood Town: J Diba, Y Samuels, C Schorah, K Kisimba, O Sinclair, C Cowan-Thompson, B Hasler-Cregg, B Smalley, N Bell, D Reid, J Hooper. Subs:R Lovett, H Pratt.
Fleetwood Town XI: B Moore, Williams, Andy Smith, M Cartwright, S Crainey, A Wright, H Hodd, A Ndti, K Deacon, A Hunter, L Myers. Subs: Mason, Andrew, Woods, Hancox, Dijabi.