Mamadou Djabi had given Town an early lead
Fleetwood Town’s youth team suffered a narrow 2-1 loss away at Rochdale on Saturday morning.In-form striker Mamadou Djabi gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot, before goals from Rochdale’s Harry Pratt and Japhet Mata, either side of half time sealed victory.
Nathan Rooney’s side fell to their second defeat in as many games having been beaten by Shrewsbury Town the previous week.
However they got off to the best possible start at the home of seventh tier Hyde United when Tre Sterling’s defence splitting pass played in Djabi, who was taken out in the box by Dale keeper Tom Dyche.
Having won the penalty, Djabi stepped up himself and slotted the ball confidently into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season.
Against the run of play, Rochdale equalised on 40 minutes when Pratt picked up the ball on the edge of the box and ran through to finish smartly to restore parity.
Fleetwood could have re-taken the lead on half time, but Tom Coulson couldn’t quite stretch his leg far enough to tap home a Jordan Hancox cross.
Into the second half, and it was suddenly Rochdale who looked the more dominant side, and Pratt went close with a thundering 25 yard shot that went whistling past the upright.
With the game evenly poised with 15 minutes left, the home side went close again as Jack Stewart forced a good save from Town keeper Max Johnstone.
Rochdale took the lead 12 minutes from time when Stewart rolled the ball through to playmaker Mata, who opened up his body and placed the ball past Johnstone.
The young Cod Army then came mightily close to snatching a point late on, when Lewis Shorock struck a terrific low half volley which was brilliantly palmed.