Matty Gillam scored a hat-trick as Dale’s Youth Team recorded a resounding 7-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday.
Joe Piggott opened the scoring three minutes before the break. A Rochdale free-kick was played low into the area from 25-yards and he scooped the ball over the ‘keeper and into the top corner of the net.
On the stroke of half-time, Gillam doubled Dale’s advantage. From a throw in, the ball was played over the top for the forward to run on to and he lifted his effort up and over the Rovers stopper.
Gillam netted his second five minutes after the re-start. Jack Stewart split the Tranmere Rovers defence with a through ball, and after rounding the goalkeeper, Gillam slotted home.
Stewart, the provider, turned goal scorer eight minutes later, netting from 12-yards. Rochdale’s fifth came shortly after the hour mark, with Gillam finishing from close range.
Tramere Rovers scored a consolation with 71 minutes on the clock, following a move up the right which allowed the visitors in one-on-one with Bradley Wade.
Stewart saw a strike turned over the line by a Rovers player nine minutes later, before Piggott rounded off the scoring five minutes from time after a sweeping move forward. He tapped the ball over the line from close range after getting on the end of a delivery from the right.
Watch the goals on Dale PlayerHD.