Fabio Tavares was delighted with the Youth Team’s 7-0 victory over Port Vale in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Wednesday.
The first-year scholar scored a hat-trick in the rout, as Dale moved level on points with league leaders Wigan Athletic and second on goal difference, but with a game in hand.
“It was a good performance,” said Tavares.
“We were ruthless in the final third. We’ve won 7-0 and we could maybe have got more, but overall, we’re happy.
“We just need to carry on winning in the next two games, and hopefully we’ll win the league.”
The striker’s haul means he now has 20 for the season, with two games still remaining.
“I’m happy to get 20 goals because that was my target at the start of the season. Let’s see if I can get 25 now!
[On his first goal] I tried to go across the ‘keeper but it went near post! I think he was expecting me to go across.
“The second goal I managed to get there first before the defender or the ‘keeper, and the third goal I had to try the backheel because I didn’t have time to turn, so it was just instinct.”
Shrewsbury Town are the Youth Team’s next opponents on Saturday, whilst Wigan face Blackpool at home at the same time (11am kick-off).
Dale’s game in hand will be played on Tuesday 8th May at home to Tranmere Rovers, but Tavares says the focus is on their next game.
“Shrewsbury is another big game. It’s going to be a hard game. We need to play like we’ve played today.
“On Saturday against Fleetwood Town [1-1 draw] we didn’t have many opportunities and we were wasteful.
“Today we’ve made up for it, we needed to bounce back to put us in good spirits going into the Shrewsbury game.”