Rochdale were beaten 2-0 at FC Halifax Town, in one of two pre-season friendlies on Tuesday night.
Keith Hill’s side created all the chances in a goalless first half, but the hosts scored twice in the second period to take the victory.
With the squad split across two fixtures, the starting eleven contained a mixture of youth and experience.
Josh Lillis was in goal, with a back four of Joe Rafferty, Harrison McGahey, Jim McNulty and Mark Kitching. Keith Keane, Aaron Morley and 15-year-old Daniel Adshead started in midfield, with Brad Inman, Calvin Andrew and Jordan Williams in a front three.
There were no chances created by either side in the opening 25 minutes of the game, but Dale gradually began to gain control as the half wore on.
Williams beat his man on the left side, before his cross was cleared poorly as far as Morley just inside the area. He connected well with the strike but could only find the goalkeeper.
Dale came so close to breaking the deadlock when Inman’s deflected shot looked to be crossing the line, only for Matt Brown to superbly clear off the goal line. The clearance also took the ball away from Williams, who was coming in at the far post to make sure the ball crossed the line.
Moments after, another deflected strike from Inman dropped narrowly the wrong side of the post with the goalkeeper stranded. From the resulting corner, McGahey nodded over Williams in-swinging delivery.
Kitching also saw an effort deflected wide after Rafferty’s pull back from the right side reached him on the edge of the area.
McGahey came closer with a free-kick from 25 yards five minutes later, his effort dipping just too late over the crossbar.
There were no changes at the break for Dale, and the first chance fell to Hill’s side through Williams. Lillis’ long goal kick bounced over the Halifax defence, allowing Williams to latch on to it, but his lobbed effort dropped over the crossbar.
Almost straight away the hosts broke the deadlock. Josh MacDonald got around McGahey on the right side of the area and drove inside, before pulling back to Tom Denton who slotted home.
Bohan Dixon, one of six half-time substitutes for FC Halifax Town, drove through the Dale midfield, but dragged a shot wide from 25 yards.
A Trialist and Ian Henderson replaced Morley and Andrew in the 65th minute, but straight from the restart the lead was doubled.
A quick free-kick was taken by Dixon and he found Matty Kosylo with a fine pass inside the area. Kosylo set himself before placing inside the far post past Lillis.
Lillis saved from Ben Tomlinson after he had been found in the area by Adam Morgan, before Kosylo’s effort from outside the area flew narrowly over the crossbar.
The last effort of the game fell Dale’s way to Henderson. He was found on the right side of the area, but his chip was comfortably held by home goalkeeper Sam Johnson.