Match Report | Dale 4-1 Morecambe

A youthful Dale side ran out comfortable winners on Saturday, beating Morecambe 4-1 at Bower Fold.

Goals from Morgan Moreland (2), Kwadwo Baah and Ethan Brierley ensured all three points for Dale after an excellent second-half display which saw them turn the game on its head.

Baah went the closest in the first-half, his shot cannoning back out off the post after cutting in from the left-hand side.

The Shrimps took the lead when a cross from the left was headed in at the far post by Amilcar Codjovi.

Moreland had a chance to equalise for Dale shortly after, but his shot was parried by the ‘keeper, with Mulvey in an offside position on the rebound.

Brierley then tried his luck from range, but it travelled just wide of the Morecambe goal.

Dale went in at half-time a goal down but made a great start to the second-half when Baah equalised – he raced onto a through ball before knocking it past the onrushing goalkeeper, and knocked the ball into the empty net.

Some good work from Baah once again saw him advance into the box, before cutting the ball back to Moreland who finished in off the post to put Dale ahead.

Codjovi nearly scored his second of the game when he cut in from the right and curled a shot which hit the post.

Dale stopper Brad Kelly then made a good stop to deny Morecambe captain Freddie Price from equalising.

Second-half substitute Peter Thomas broke clear in injury time before shooting towards goal, his shot was parried and converted on the rebound by Moreland to wrap up all three points.

There was still time for one more goal, and it was spectacular – with the Morecambe ‘keeper out of his goal after clearing the ball up field Brierley fired the ball straight back in on the volley 40-yards from goal to put the icing on the cake.

Dale XI | Kelly, Caldwell, DeSouza, Nock, Kinsella, Dunne, Brierley, Phillips, Baah, Moreland, Mulvey

Subs | Lee, Chalton, Patrick, Scanlon, Thomas