The Rochdale U18's bowed out of the FA Youth Cup after a narrow 4-3 defeat to Premier League Fulham U18's in what was a brilliantly entertaining game.
A chilly evening at the Crown Oil Arena but one filled with entertainment on the pitch, not something we've been able to say much this season.
Dale lined up with the following eleven, including Kevin Dos Santos and Oscar Kelly, both 15 and both having featured for the first team this season:
An end-to-end game eventually saw Fulham come out on top with two very late goals to secure a 4-3 win.
Fulham took the lead before many had even sat down after a mix-up in the Dale back line left Loupali-Bi with pretty much an open goal to make it 1-0 to the visitors after just three minutes.
Dale got back into it with 19 minutes gone. Darren Ehimamiegho with the equaliser after a great interception by the impressive Joe Cunningham who played a one-two with Anisio Jesus before putting a good ball across for Ehimamiegho who turned and slotted home.
Lee Thorpes's men made it 2-1 on 36 minutes when Cunningham battled brilliantly with the Fulham wide-man to win the ball back, he drove forward and played a fantastic pass for Ehimamiegho to run onto and he managed to finish past McNally in the Fulham net.
Fulham made it 2-2 just before half time which will have been a big blow for Dale who were more than matching the Fulham lads. Osmand with the goal for the visitors.
Rochdale went back in front on 76 minutes through Anisio Jesus who managed to finish, on the turn. Dale keeper Ellis Craven managed to injure himself in the celebrations but he was able to continue despite Lennon Maclorg being stripped and ready to replace the Dale keeper.
Elation turned to heartbreak with just a couple of minutes left when Fulham managed to get the equaliser through Loupali-Bi again and you could visibly see heads go down despite Dale midfielder Paul Kyffin trying to rally his teammates. A special note on the Dale number 8 who was excellent throughout, a real all-action midfielder, reminded me of Ethan Hamilton in terms of playing style and certainly one to watch out for.
Just as it looked like extra-time and maybe penalties might be needed, Fulham grabbed the winner as we entered into stoppage time through Osmand again. Dale couldn't get back in the game despite eight minutes stoppage time.
A thoroughly valiant effort for the Dale youngsters with a couple of players really catching the eye for me, Paul Kyffin and Joe Cunningham while Oscar Kelly didn't look like he was two years younger than most of the others at all either despite it not quite working out for him. Ellis Craven is certainly a character in net as well.