Football: Rochdale AFC Youth Team 4 - 2 Port Vale

Rochdale AFC Youth Team squad

The Youth Team ran out 4-2 winners over Port Vale in the EFL North West Youth Alliance League on Saturday 26 January 2019.

Louis White’s 11th minute penalty was cancelled out by a Vale strike six minutes later before Fabio Tavares restored Dale's lead shortly before the break.

The visitors restored parity again in the 70th minute, but goals from Morgan Moreland and Toby Phillips for Rochdale wrapped up the win late on.

Both sides created chances inside the opening ten minutes, with Morgan Piper making a fine stop low to his right to prevent Rochdale going behind early, before Lewis Bradley fired wide at the other end after latching on to White’s superb ball over the top.

When Juwon Hamzat was brought down in the area, White converted from the spot to break the deadlock.

However, the lead lasted just six minutes, when a through ball was clinically finished by the Valiants’ striker.

Rochdale keeper Piper made another fine save to keep his side on level terms, turning a fierce shot over the crossbar at the near post.

In the 38th minute, Tavares netted his 13th of the season when he received Phillips’ pass, made himself a yard of space, before curling beyond the Vale goalkeeper.

Harrison Hopper fired wide after a fine Dale move and the visitors blazed a shot over from a pull back from the byline after the break.

Bradley saw a shot cleared off the line, before having another goalbound effort headed behind by a defender.

Vale equalised with 20 minutes remaining, heading home from close range from a corner, but Rochdale were in front for a third time in the 82nd minute, when Moreland pounced on a loose ball to poke under the goalkeeper, before making sure from close range.

With three minutes to go, Phillips wrapped up the win with an exquisite curling effort from just outside the area.

The win keeps Rochdale in second position in the league table.