The Youth Team’s unbeaten league run has extended to 11 games after a battling 3-2 victory away to Salford City on Saturday.
A goal from Oscar Kelly and a brace from Kevin Dos Santos was enough for Dale to take the three points, despite a rally from the hosts.
It was a fast start from Dale, scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. The first, after five minutes, came courtesy of a brilliant left footed effort from Kelly, who fired into the top corner following a cut back from Max Sutton.
And three minutes later, Dos Santos made it 2-0. His left-footed volley from a cross on the left floated into the corner, leaving the Salford ‘keeper stranded.
An Oscar Kelly rocket and two from Kevin Dos Santos helped Dale to a 3-2 win at Salford City on Saturday 🙌
— Rochdale AFC Academy (@RochdaleAcademy) April 3, 2023
Check out the goals 🎥#RAFC pic.twitter.com/39noE6swvA
Dale continued to apply pressure to the hosts, as Paddy Watts’ looping header from a corner rebounded back off the bar.
The third goal came after 29 minutes as Dos Santos grabbed his second of the game. Some good work from Dale again on the left side of the field saw the ball fired across the six-yard-box, where Dos Santos was waiting to poke it home.
Following the third goal, it was the hosts who dominated the remainder of the first-half, scoring two goals in the space of three minutes.
Into the second-half and chances were few and far between for both teams, with neither side really creating any goal-threatening opportunities.
Watts again came close to scoring when his header, which looked to be heading towards the bottom corner, took a deflection and just went wide of the post.
Ellis Craven made an excellent save to deny the Salford forward in additional time, which saw Dale close out the game and take all three points.
Dale XI | Craven, Cunningham, Sutton, Dos Santos, Watts, Nevett, Jesus, Ayub, Ehimamiegho, Greenwell, Kelly.
Subs | Maclorg, Mann, Dunlop, Tyjon, Akpan.
Report by Luke Westmorland.
