Dale’s final league game of the season ended in a stalemate at Ewen Fields, as they drew 1-1 with Morecambe.
Jadel Yaduat put Dale ahead early on, but a second-half penalty for the away side along with a Luke Nock red card meant the game ended all-square.
The first sight on goal came when Louie D’Souza’s corner found Nock at the back post, but he headed over.
Adam Cullen then won the ball back high up the pitch before feeding Jordan Scanlon, he found Yaduat whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
Dale broke the deadlock when Louie Clarkson intercepted a diagonal ball before playing in Yaduat who found the top corner with a great finish.
Morecambe threatened an equaliser down the left-wing but Brad Kelly was equal to it and denied the visitors from close range.
In the second half, Anisio Jesus beat the offside trap before being denied by the Morecambe ‘keeper, but the Dale forward gathered the loose ball before squaring for Scanlon whose shot was cleared off the line.
Clarkson went close to doubling Dale’s lead when his lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net.
Yaduat then found Jesus who prodded an effort towards goal but it travelled just wide of the post.
The game was turned on its head when a cross from the left found a Morecambe forward whose shot was blocked on the line by Nock, which the referee adjudged to have been handball and a penalty was awarded.
The Dale captain was given his marching orders and Morecambe equalised from the spot.
Dale showed resilience to keep pushing for a winner despite being a man down and could’ve been awarded a penalty of their own late on – Louie Chorlton’s quick burst into the box saw him tripped by an opposition defender – but the referee waved play on to the amazement of everyone in the stadium.
The game ended with no side being able to find a winner and the points were shared.
Dale still sit two points clear at the top of the EFL Youth Alliance League North table, but second place Fleetwood Town have two games in hand.
If The Cod Army fail to win both of their remaining two games, Dale will be crowned champions due to their superior goal difference.
Dale also have the chance to win another trophy when they play Gillingham in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup National Final on Wednesday, with kick-off at 1pm.
The game will be broadcast live on Gillingham’s official YouTube channel.
DALE XI | Kelly, Chorlton, Kinsella, Kyle, D’Souza, Nock, Clarkson, Kershaw, Scanlon, Yaduat, Cullen.
SUBS | Chalton, Caldwell, Mialkowski, Kyffin, Jesus.