Sophie Coates’ second-half strike gave Dale hope of securing at least a point but it would be the hosts to take the points.
Dale got the ball rolling in the first half and started brightly when makeshift winger Ellie Southworth won a freekick in a dangerous position, the following effort was defended excellently by Wigan’s centre-half.
On the counter, Wigan played a ball through the middle of the pitch, which opened Dale’s defence, and a simple finish for Grace Cuffy, who slotted the ball past Tanya Nash for a lead inside two minutes.
After the goal, Dale were controlling the ball and dictated the play, looking for that much-needed response after going a goal down early on.
With Dale having the majority of possession, Wigan were trying to hurt Dale by hitting them on the counter attack. They had an opportunity to go two up but, the chance was wasted.
Dale kept the pressure on the Latics’ defence, chances from Coates were put just wide of the target.
Alicia Barnett also had an effort at goal but, that was put well over the bar and frustration grew within the Dale players as they knew they should be at least level in the tie.
Olivia Jones played a delicate ball into the box that just needed a slight touch towards goal, but all in blue missed it.
A great ball in by Smith followed, which dropped inside the six-yard box, and after a huge scramble, the ball hit the post and went out for a goal-kick. That was the closest Dale got to getting that all important equaliser.
Wigan hit Dale again on the counter attack and nearly put themselves two in front but a brilliant save from Nash kept the deficit at one.
Coates found herself through on goal, and everyone expected her to make it even but she squandered the opportunity.
Dale made some substitutes early in the second half, with Katie King and Southworth coming off for Gracie Lawler and Lilly Dale, the latter making her return to the match day squad after injury.
It would be the Latics to get that crucial second goal to give Dale a mountain to climb. Another easy pass through the Dale midfield put Cuffy through on goal and she converted for a brace.
Coates hit the target to pull a goal back, a tidy finish into the bottom right corner gave Dale a glimmer of hope that they could rescue a crucial point in the league.
Another chance for Smith to get the equaliser went the wrong side of the woodwork in the game’s final chance.
Dale XI | Nash, E. Jones, Malpus, Whyte, Smith, Moran, Coates, Barnett (c), King, O. Jones, Southworth
Subs | Burke, Dale, Cocking, Lawler
