The goals came within two minutes of one another, as Aidan Barlow’s finish was cancelled out by a Yeovil set piece in the opening 15 minutes.
The hosts were reduced to ten men midway through the second half as Dale built heavy pressure, but they couldn’t find a winning goal, drawing for just the second time this season.
Jimmy McNulty made four changes from the midweek win over Forest Green Rovers. Liam Hogan, Tarryn Allarakhia, Casey Pettit and Aidan Barlow all started, with our newest signing Ed Francis taking a spot on the bench.
Dale dominated the early proceedings, winning a number of set pieces in the opening ten minutes, before taking the lead after 13.
Kyron Gordon fired a ball into the feet of Dieseruvwe, who controlled and turned nicely, finding Barlow with a threaded through ball. Barlow kept his composure and fired coolly past Jed Ward.
However, the lead lasted less than two minutes, when Finn Cousin-Dawson looped a header over Oliver Whatmuff from a deep free-kick.
The Dale stopper put a strong body behind Troy Perrett’s shot from inside the area, whilst at the other end, Burger and Tarryn Allarakhia hit efforts off target.
Whatmuff was called into action early on in the second period, denying Luke McCormick when one-on-one, but that would be all that the home side offered as Dale took control.
Barlow and Dieseruvwe had efforts blocked and Allarakhia fired over, before the home side had Aaron Jarvis dismissed for an elbow on Gordon.
This only allowed Dale to pile on further pressure, with Gordon having a shot blocked and Barlow curling narrowly wide.
Pettit drew a low stop from Ward and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, introduced as a half-time substitute, had a header held when he joined the forward line late on.
Joe Pritchard cushioned a volley over, Devante Rodney headed over and Pettit had a curling effort well held as Dale threw everything at their opponents.
However, McNulty’s men were forced to settle for a point, bringing a superb winning run to an end, but extending the unbeaten start to 2026.
Yeovil Town XI | Ward, Mukena (46’ Skura), Cousin-Dawson, Wannell ©, McCormick, Daly, McGavin, Perrett (67’ Greenslade), Sims, Mafico, Campbell (59’ Jarvis).
Unused subs | Gould, Page, Biss, Works.
Scorers | 15’ Cousin-Dawson.
Red card | 69’ Jarvis.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Godon ©, East, Hogan (46’ Ebanks-Landell), Allarakhia (67’ Moss), Dieseruvwe (67’ Henderson), Adebayo-Rowling, Pettit, Barlow (80’ Pritchard), Burger (46’ Rodney), Perry.
Unused subs | Hosannah, Francis.
Scorers | 13’ Barlow.
Attendance | 3,161 (272 away)
