Football: Rochdale AFC Youth Team 2-2 Carlisle United

Rochdale AFC Youth Team squad

The Rochdale AFC Youth Team were forced to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw with Carlisle United on Saturday 16 February.

Despite dominating the first-half, Rochdale couldn’t find a way to goal, and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock midway through the second period.

However, two goals in two minutes, from Lewis Bradley and Florent Hoti, turned the game on its head shortly after, before the visitors equalised to earn a share of the spoils.

Rochdale were on top for the majority of the first-half with Bradley, James Neild and Toby Phillips sending efforts off target.

Neild forced Carlisle stopper Regan Ward into a good save to turn a header wide of the upright, before Tavares had a golden opportunity to put Dale in front.

Bradley cut inside from the left and curled an effort at goal which Ward parried. It fell kindly for Tavares six-yards out, but he fired over with the goalkeeper on the ground.

Keighran Kerr sent two efforts off target in quick succession with Carlisle’s only chances of the first-half, whilst Phillips and Tavares sent further efforts off target before the break.

The visitors started the second-half strongly, with Kerr and Kyle Soper firing off target, and Brad Wade saving two efforts well, before they took the lead.

Kerr latched onto a through ball down the middle and kept his composure to finish beyond Wade.

The lead lasted less than two minutes though, as Bradley levelled matters. Hoti broke well and poked a ball through to Bradley, who took it inside his man onto his left foot and scored his 11th of the season, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it.

Hoti was provider turned scorer two minutes later as he gave Dale the lead. He combined well with Florian Yonsian to win the ball high up the pitch, before driving into the area finishing clinically one-on-one.

However, Rochdale were in front for just four minutes, as Carlisle equalised. A long ball forward fell kindly for Charlie Birch to slot home into the far corner, despite what looked to be a push on Neild.

The visitors were inches away from snatching all three points in added time, striking the inside of the upright, before a header came back off the crossbar, as the spoils were shared.