Aidan Barlow got Dale up and running inside 20 minutes with his looped finish, followed by a similar effort from Ian Henderson in the second-half but it wasn’t enough for Dale as the visitors took home all three points.
Jimmy McNulty named the same outfield team from our victory at Sutton United, with the only change coming in goal as Oliver Whatmuff returned to start.
Dale got at their opponents from the first whistle, with Kyron Gordon busting a gut to find space on the right and fire a teaser across, which missed Mani Dieseruvwe and was cleared at the last in front of the lurking Dan Moss.
Devante Rodney got his first glimpse of goal eight minutes in as he cut in and hit one which was blocked by a sliding clearance before a visiting header went wide at the other end.
Dale found chances from corners in the first-half, with Luke Hannant receiving it outside the area, taking a touch and striking which Dale were again denied by a defender who headed over.
The early momentum paid dividends in the 19th minute, as the passage of play worked it’s way to the left. Aidan Barlow assessed his options before sending a looping attempt over Myles Boney and into the far corner for the lead.
Barlow was involved again as he got hold of it outside the area and flicked it delightfully into the path of Rodney who tried taking it past his man who slid in and cleared.
Two corners on the half-hour mark led to opportunities for Casey Pettit and Gordon, the first over the crossbar via a deflection, with the latter’s header only just evading the target.
Callum Perry was next up to strike after Barlow was fouled but he sent the free-kick into the side-netting moments before Morecambe went up the other end and converted with their first shot on target through Lewis Payne who fired low in the near corner.
Dieseruvwe gained his first effort on goal, after cutting in and going for the far corner but Boney pulled off a fine save to deny the forward.
Dale came out for the second-half with an opportunity to get back as Rodney attempted to catch the goalkeeper out after his poor clearance but he retreated to save.
However, the Shrimps took the lead for the first time in the game through Payne again who slammed home at the back stick.
Two became three five minutes later as Jack Nolan stole in with a diving header giving Whatmuff no chance.
Henderson was introduced and he was part of an attack that ended up in the back of the net but Smith was adjudged to have been in an offside position as he converted.
Dale got another goal back through that man Henderson who lofted a wonderful effort into the far corner for what was a classic Hendo goal 13 minutes from time.
Smith was then denied with two crucial Morecambe interventions late on, with both efforts destined for a Dale equaliser but it wasn’t to be.
In the last kick of the game, Ben Tollitt broke clear and slotted for a fourth goal and a rare home defeat for McNulty’s men.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East (88′ McBride), Ebanks-Landell (c), Dieseruvwe, Rodney (69′ Smith), Hannant (64′ JK. Gordon), Pettit (69′ Gilmour), Barlow (69′ Henderson), Moss, Perry.
Unused subs | Baptiste, Francis.
Scorers | 19′ Barlow, 77′ Henderson.
Morecambe XI | Boney, Payne, Dean, Edwards (80′ Akindileni), Azeez (80′ Thomas), Jameson (87′ Conte), Hogan, Lewis, Songo’o (c) (83′ Tollitt), Nolan, Popov (87′ Ogwuru).
Unused subs | Scales, Fogarty.
Scorers | 32′ 66′ Payne, 72′ Nolan, 90+8′ Tollitt).
Attendance | 4183 (369 visitors).
