Dale’s Under-15s have made an impressive winning start to their EFL Floodlit Cup campaign.
Comprehensive victories over Barnsley and Bradford City, 4-0 and 6-0 respectively, have put Dale in a strong position in their group, which also contains Sheffield Wednesday and Oldham Athletic.
The Under-15s Floodlit Cup provides a unique experience of playing evening matches under floodlights, providing young academy players with similar tests to those they will encounter at Under-18, Under-23 and senior levels.
Youth Development Phase Lead Coach Danny Lloyd said: “It has been fantastic to see the lads relish the opportunity and perform under the lights, in a similar manner that they have all season.
“The most pleasing thing from the two fixtures so far is how the team dominated and controlled the games, both with and without the ball.
“Watching these players has the same feeling as when the likes of Dan Adshead and Luke Matheson were playing in the competition.
“It is exciting to see how this group will develop over the next few seasons.”
Dale’s next two fixtures, against Wednesday and Oldham, will take place in the New Year.