Four days before the respective reserve sides met at Pontin's League level the youth sides met at the same Dark Lane venue, home of Unibond Division One North side Rossendale United, in a Puma Youth Alliance clash.

The bobbly pitch and windy conditions meant that conditions were really tough for both sides with the conditions eventually dictating the nature of the game.

But a solid performance saw the Dragons return from Lancashire with a well-deserved point from a 1-1 draw.

Rochdale opened the scoring on 25 minutes with a sloppily conceded goal but the Dragons hit back almost straight away when Luke Carding sent over a free kick from the left and Kai Edwards headed home at the far post.

Obi Anoruo did have a great chance to win in it but the ball rolled down his shins and straight into the keeper's hands.

"Overall I'm satisfied," said Steve Cooper after the game. "It was important not to lose."