The Youth Team were 4-2 winners at Blackpool in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Tuesday.
Dale fell behind in the 21st minute to Layton Campbell’s strike, but Oscar Kelly converted a penalty just two minutes later to level matters.
Brooklyn Bailey capitalised on a defensive error just minutes later, blocking the Blackpool goalkeeper’s clearance and ensuring the ball crossed the line, to put Dale into the lead.
Ten minutes after the break, the hosts pulled themselves back level through Terry Bondo.
It looked like the game might be heading for a draw, but 12 minutes from time, another defensive error was capitalised on, this time by Darren Ehimamiegho, who intercepted a header back to the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net.
Dale made sure of the points with two minutes remaining when good play led to Ben Horne hitting a first-time effort into the back of the net from the edge of the area.
The win moves Dale above Blackpool in the table. Lee Thorpe’s men face Blackpool again on Saturday, with kick-off at Platt Lane at 11am.
