Tobi Adebayo-Rowling had cancelled out Ollie Pearce’s effort in the first-half, before a Josh Stones double and another from Pearce after the break ultimately secured the points for the hosts.
Jimmy McNulty made two changes to the eleven that started in the win over Boston United on Saturday. Kevin Berkoe and Tyler Smith, who bagged twice in the win, replaced Tarryn Allarakhia and Connor McBride, who both dropped to the bench.
Dale began well, creating the first chances of the game. Devante Rodney latched onto a ball over the top and squared, with Mani Dieseruvwe only inches away from sliding home centrally.
Rodney then had a couple of efforts from the edge of the area blocked, firstly after being found by Adebayo-Rowling, then after Berkoe had seen a header from a corner blocked out to him.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott sent a header wide for the hosts, whilst Smith almost lobbed York goalkeeper Harrison Male, but he stood tall to deny him.
York took the lead in the 35th minute, when Ollie Pearce nodded a cross from the left home at the near post.
However, Dale were level almost straight from the restart. After a short delay, which involved Smith being replaced by McBride following an injury, Dale’s high press, initiated by Rodney’s challenge on Mark Kitching, won the ball back. It fell for Dieseruvwe, who fed the overlapping Adebayo-Rowling, and he fired the ball across Male and into the far corner.
There were plenty of chances in the period before the break, as Oliver Whatmuff held a header from Josh Stones and palmed away Ollie Banks’ long-range effort.
At the other end, substitute McBride found space and saw a low shot beaten away by Male, as an eventful half came to a close.
However, three goals within 15 minutes of the restart for the hosts took the game away from Dale.
Josh Stones scored the first two, rounding Whatmuff and slotting home for his first, before driving into the area from the left and finding the bottom corner for his second.
Whatmuff was equal to a Pearce effort, with Fagan-Walcott putting the rebound wide, as the hosts continued to push. At the other end, McBride’s square ball to an unmarked Dieseruvwe was well cut out by Male.
Just before the hour mark, Pearce doubled his tally and netted York’s fourth, sweeping home a pull-back from just inside the area.
Whatmuff made some more stops as the clock wind down, from Pearce and Hiram Boateng, whilst substitute Ian Henderson saw a header held, as Dale succumbed to defeat.
York City XI | Male, Kitching (80’ Fallowfield), Fagan-Walcott, Howe ©, Hunt, Stones (67’ Newby), Pearce (85’ Nathaniel-George), Brookes (67’ Boateng), Batty, Felix, Banks (80’ Olley).
Unused subs | Sykes-Kenworthy, Hewitt.
Scorers | 35’ 59’ Pearce, 46’ 49’ Stones.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East, Ebanks-Landell ©, Gilmour (60’ Pettit), Dieseruvwe (75’ Henderson), Rodney (75’ Barlow), Adebayo-Rowling, Berkoe (60’ Allarakhia), Beckwith, Smith (38’ McBride).
Unused subs | Tutonda, Moss.
Scorers | 39’ Adebayo-Rowling.
Attendance | 6,643 (722 Away).
