Sophie Coates continued to dominate the scoring charts as she netted a brace with Phoebe Duckworth and Daisy Mason making sure of the victory despite Dale going a goal behind.
Both sides started very well with chances a plenty, but no one could produce the quality needed to open the scoring.
The first ten minutes turned cagey as no team could get a hold of possession and a lot of wayward efforts at goal were seen.
Dale’s keeper Leah Jackson, who was making her third appearance this season, made some very comfortable saves.
The Shrimps were making it difficult for Dale to get a foot hold in the game and stopped them from playing the football they wanted to play.
Morecambe had a dangerous attack building on the left-hand side and managed to work the ball in a promising area, until the shot was saved well by Jackson.
The Shrimps took advantage on the half hour mark, Sophie Ackred seizing possession high up the field and supplying Lauren Satterley who slotted home.
Leading the tie, and knocking Dale out of the cup, as it stands, gaffer Lee Atkinson make a tactical switch and moved Gracie Smith and Phoebe Duckworth onto opposite sides.
The switch helped Dale massively in the game and the momentum of the game swung in Dale’s favour as they created ample amount of chances to equalise the tie.
Top scorer Coates had arguably the best chance to square the game but, her shot flew agonisingly close of the bottom left corner.
However, it was only a matter of time before Dale levelled the scores.
Five minutes before half time, Gracie Smith won her side a corner. She then took it herself with a brilliant ball into the box, gave Coates a free header to square the match.
In a matter of seconds, Dale found themselves in another attacking position after a superb tackle from Olivia Jones in midfield. This gave Coates the ball, who found Duckworth, she sent a delicate chip over the top and without mistake, found the top right corner.
Morecambe came out the traps after the break, aggressively looking for that equaliser. However, it would be Dale to get the game’s fourth goal. Coates grabbing herself a brace two minutes after the restart, pouncing on a goalkeeping mistake and slotting the ball into the empty net.
Dale seemed to have one foot already in the next round.
In the 49th minute though, a wonder strike from Nat Broad, pulled one back. The effort was smashed into the top left-hand side and gave goalkeeper Jackson no chance.
Alicia Barnett cleanly won the ball back for Dale and slid Mason in, who made it 4-2 with an amazing chip over the keeper.
This made sure Dale, were safely through to the next round of the cup.
Chances from Smith, Coates and Barnett, troubled the keeper, however, were unable to extend the Dale advantage.
She made a dangerous through ball towards Mason, who just couldn’t get on the end of the ball played by substitute Isabelle Hunt but it was a brilliant chance to make it five.
The full-time whistle blew with Dale progressing into the next round of the Alliance Design & Print Cup.
Manager Lee Atkinson gave his assessment on the game and performance.
“I’m happy with the win overall, first half we weren’t on it but, we went in ahead at the break and we took our chances.
“We had to do a lot of defending today, but pleased with the result.
Lee spoke on how the second half saw a much-improved performance from Dale.
“We needed to do the simple things right, and get the ball down the wide areas and not just down the middle, making it nice an easy for them to defend.
Atkinson spoke about the two wingers, who both got on the score sheet today,
“Daisy and Phoebe are wonderful players, who carry such an attacking threat, and it excites people, we want to see that more and they’re working hard in training.
Next week, Dale travel to Mossley Hill in the league and Atkinson addresses his thoughts on the game,
“I think it’s going to be a very, very tough game and I understand that its new territory for me as I’ve never been there but, they are doing well in the league and pose some very dangerous players.
“I’m excepting a tough challenge and so we have to be at our very best or teams will punish us and have to have those 100% levels every week.”
Duckworth spoke after the game about her goal and stated that.
“I am delighted to have of scored and we want to build from this with a good cup run.”
This was Dale’s third win in a row, and travel to Mossley Hill next weekend in the North West Regional Division.
Dale XI | Jackson, Strudwick (c), Malpus, Whyte, Smith, Coates, Barnett, Duckworth, O. Jones, Southworth, Burke.
Subs | Hunt, Hayden, Mason, Cocking.
