Match Report | Accrington Stanley 2-1 Dale

Dale’s youngsters were beaten on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance League, losing 2-1 to Accrington Stanley.

Despite taking the lead through substitute Ben Kershaw, Stanley turned it around following a brace from Quelor Kasongo.

Dale started brightly and had the first effort on goal, Adam Cullen breaking into the box, before squaring to Peter Thomas who was denied expertly by Liam Sherwood in the Accrington goal.

Louie Chorlton made progress down the right, cutting the ball back to Kacper Mialkowski who was denied by a smart stop from Sherwood once more.

Dale were forced into an early change when Mialkowski had to be withdrawn due to injury, he was replaced by Kershaw, who with his first touch side-footed home from close range to put Dale ahead.

Accrington equalised shortly before the half-time interval when they pounced on a mistake in the Dale defence, the ball eventually falling to Kasongo who finished into the bottom corner.

Kasongo got his second after half-time, when he was on hand at the back post to convert following a cross from the right-hand side.

Dale responded through Thomas, but he was once again kept out by Sherwood from point blank range.

Substitute Joao Gouveia saw a cross from the left loop onto the crossbar, before Accrington cleared.

Dale were unable to find an equaliser that their play deserved, and were narrowly defeated.