Rochdale started their EFL Northern Youth Alliance Cup group stage campaign with a 2-2 draw away at Lincoln City on Saturday.
Dale lead twice thanks to goals from Elliott Murray and Declan Evans, but the hosts responded on each occasion to secure a point from the game.
Murray struck with just four minutes on the clock to open the scoring, after Rochdale charged up the left hand side of play.
After doing well to win the ball while under pressure, Raphael Chea picked out Murray who cut the ball across the face of goal. Aaron Morley’s effort looked destined to head wide of the target but Murray popped up at the post to lash the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.
Five minutes later and the Imps were level. After striding forward from the half-way line, a defence splitting pass sent Jack McMenemy through one-on-one with 'keeper Bradley Wade. After keeping his composure, the Lincoln City forward struck low into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Evans regained Dale’s lead midway through the first half from a corner. After making the run to the near post, he powered a header down and into the bottom corner of the net, to give Dale a 2-1 half-time lead.
After the break, the home side came from behind for a second time to draw level. A failed clearance by a Dale defender saw the Imps’ Archie Moyses drive at goal from 25-yards before finishing low into the bottom corner.
FT: Lincoln City 2-2 Rochdale