Rochdale's Youth Team recorded victory on Wednesday, winning 3-0 against Gillingham to be crowned EFL Youth Alliance Cup National champions.
After beating Grimsby in the Northern Section final, Dale went one better winning the National final, picking up a trophy in the process.
Goals from Jordan Scanlon and Joe Wright in the first-half, along with Ethan Pye’s header in the second ensured Dale returned home with some silverware.
The first chance of the game fell to Scanlon when he received the ball on the edge of the area, before dispatching past the goalkeeper to put Dale in front.
Brad Kelly then made a great save to deny Gillingham an equaliser from a free-kick.
Dale were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Louie Chorlton was bundled over in the box.
Wright stepped up and rolled the ball home, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way and putting Dale in a commanding position.
In the second-half, Wright had another chance when he found space down the left, but his shot was palmed away by the goalkeeper.
The hosts nearly pulled one back following a corner, but it was headed well over the Dale goal.
Wright threatened once more and got in behind the Gillingham backline, but was denied by an expert stop from the ‘keeper.
Chorlton then found Scanlon down the right, but the ‘keeper was once again equal to it.
The game was wrapped up when Louie D’Souza’s free-kick from the right was met by Pye who glanced a header past the onrushing goalkeeper to seal the victory.
The Gills went close to a consolation right at the end, but were denied by an excellent sliding challenge from Morgan Kinsella who made sure of the clean sheet.
The result brings to an end to Dale's season, with the side having finished runners up to Fleetwood Town in the North West Youth Alliance league.
DALE XI | Kelly, Chorlton, Kinsella, Pye, D’Souza, Kershaw, Clarkson, Mialkowski, Scanlon, Yaduat (59’), Wright (84’).
SUBS | Chalton, Caldwell (84’), Cullen (59’), Thomas.