The Youth Team began 2019 with a 2-0 victory at Walsall in the EFL North West Youth Alliance League.
Second-half goals from Lewis Bradley and Morgan Moreland sealed all three points and a winning start to the year.
Dale started well as Harrison Hopper’s header from a corner was saved by the legs of the Walsall goalkeeper, before Juwon Hamzat’s powerful strike was well saved at the near post.
The Dale pressure continued after the break as Moreland was denied by the Walsall stopper, with Ben Martin firing over on the follow up.
Bradley broke the deadlock eight minutes after the interval, slotting home from close range after Hopper’s turn and shot across goal was parried.
Moreland’s fierce effort after a corner was partially cleared needed to be blocked, but he made no mistake with ten minutes remaining, ghosting in at the back post to turn home Bradley’s cross from the right.
The scorer of Dale’s second then had another powerful effort tipped over the bar late on, before the Walsall stopper made a good stop to prevent his defender turning one into his own net.
The win sees Dale move into the second position in the EFL North West Youth Alliance League table.
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