Dale’s Integration Squad were victorious in the Central League Cup against Rotherham United on Tuesday, winning 4-2.
Keaton Mulvey’s brace, along with goals from Ethan Brierley and Matty Gillam ensured Dale ran out convincing winners.
Mulvey opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock thanks to a fine strike from the edge of the area which nestled into the top corner.
Brierley then tried his luck 30-yards from goal and his effort was rewarded when the ball sailed past Laurence Bilboe to double Dale’s lead.
Julien Lamy went close for the Millers when he found space in the box, but his effort was tipped behind by Brad Wade.
Aaron Morley’s cross-field ball was well brought down by Morgan Moreland, but Rotherham had numbers back and were able to block Moreland’s shot on goal.
Jerome Greaves broke through the Dale defence to go one-on-one against Wade, but the Dale ‘keeper denied him expertly with an outstretched leg.
Lamy pulled one back for Rotherham when he cut in from the right-hand side before curling a left-footed shot past Wade.
Some intricate play from Dale saw Mulvey’s backheel find Lewis Bradley whose shot was saved by Bilboe.
In the second-half, Dale restored their two-goal advantage when Harrison Hopper’s cut back found Gillam, who took his time before curling a shot past Bilboe.
Rotherham scored again with Lamy grabbing his second, with a great strike from the edge of the area after Dale lost possession in midfield.
Mulvey then followed suit, grabbing a brace of his own, slotting past the Rotherham stopper after being played through by Moreland.
Moreland had a chance of his own when he was played through by Joe Wright, but he was denied by Bilboe.
From the following corner, a well worked routine found its way to Brierley who dragged a shot wide.
Dale almost scored a fifth when Wright’s shot was blocked before Moreland’s shot travelled wide.
The result capped of a great performance from a young Dale squad that saw them notch their first points in the Central League Cup.