The Youth Team were narrowly defeated by Blackpool in the final of the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup on Tuesday evening.
The Seasiders were 3-2 winners in a entertaining game at the County Ground, Leyland.
Blackpool opened the scoring through Joe Strawn, before Peter Thomas equalised for Dale, and the sides went in level at the break. The Seasiders regained the lead early in the second half though Jake Daniels but were pegged back once again, as Paul Kyffin put Rochdale on level terms. The Seasiders won it with a quarter on an hour to go when Tayt Trusty netted from the penalty spot.
Rochdale started the game really well and dominated possession, although neither team could create an opening.
Blackpool broke the deadlock, scorning against the run of play, in the 16th minute, when Strawn stole in on goal and coolly slotted past Brad Kelly.
As the Seasiders looked to capitalise on a brief spell on top, Dannen Francis had a low shot held by the ‘keeper.
Rochdale rallied, though, and as they pilled on the pressure, Thomas was first to a scuffed clearance and sent a sent wide of the target.
The deserved equaliser came shortly after the half hour. Thomas was played in on goal by Joe Cunningham and after breaking into the area, he fired a powerful strike into the far bottom corner.
Moments after Dale had levelled, Jordan Scanlon fired narrowly over from a tight angle.
Rochdale were coming forward at speed and in numbers, and they were having a lot of joy down the right. They broke quickly through Bassitt Mandey who had a shot blocked on the edge of the area.
Strawn skewed a shot wide, before Blackpool were denied by the woodwork in stoppage time. A header thundered against the post before hitting Brad Kelly and ricochetting onto the bar before eventually being cleared.
Dale broke down the other end and Thomas turned an effort over after being played in by Mandey, on the stroke of half-time.
HT | Rochdale 1-1 Blackpool
Blackpool’s Jacke Moore, a half-time substitute, sent a powerful effort narrowly wide from distance sixty second after the break, before the Seasiders re-took the lead moments later when Jake Daniels finished from close range.
Rochdale should have had a penalty in the 51st minute when Thomas was fouled at least a yard inside the area, but the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. The set-piece was eventually cleared back out as far as Ben Kershaw and he fired over from 20-yards.
Kelly, in the Dale goal, held well onto a Francis’ fierce effort, before his namesake, Oscar Kelly, had a shot held by the Blackpool stopper.
Oscar Kelly was in again soon after, but saw his strike, from Cunningham’s low delivery, cleared.
Up the other end, Daniels fired narrowly wide of the far post.
Dale got themselves level for a second time in the match, in the 66th minute. A poor Seasiders clearance fell for Kyffin 20-yards out, and he curled a superb effort into the top corner.
But Blackpool were back in front nine minutes later. After Johnny Johnstone went down under a challenge inside the area, Trusty took the resulting spot-kick and fired straight down the middle.
Dale’s first substitution of the match came soon after, with Anisio Jesus replacing Oscar Kelly.
Thomas had a shot blocked before being cleared as far as Kyffin, whose powerful strike was held by Alec McLachlan.
The 'keeper then pulled off a stunning save to claw away a near certain goal-bound Patrick Watts header from Kershaw’s free-kick.
The Seasiders had a succession of efforts around the area as Dale stood firm to block a number of efforts, while Brad Kelly made a fine save, down to to his left to parry away a shot.
Two final changes followed in quick succession, with Kyffin making way for Kacper Mialkowski and Jadel Yaduat coming on for Mandey.
Late on, Daniels had a couple of chance, firing wide of the upright on both occasions.
Starting XI | B Kelly, Cunningham, Sutton, Kershaw, Watts, Nevett, Mandey, Kyffin, Thomas, Scanlon, O Kelly. Subs | Craven, Jesus, Yaduat, Mialkowski, Laurence, Greenwell, Lawless, Kyle.