Luton defeat kicks off Dale pre-season

DALE’S first pre-season friendly ended in a 4-0 defeat against Championship side Luton Town in behind-closed-doors game at a neutral venue.

The Hatters had the first effort of the game when Elijah Adebayo sent a header narrowly wide of the upright, but it was Dale who had the first shot on target.

Stephen Dooley broke through midfield and fed a through ball to Jake Beesley, who saw his left-foot shot well held.

Minutes later, Luton took the lead from the penalty spot, with Adebayo firing clinically into the bottom corner.

Brad Wade made a good stop from Carlos Mendes Gomes’ dipping effort before Elliott Lee fired wide from distance.

Eoghan O’connell saw a free-kick well blocked by a Luton defender, before they doubled their lead.

Wade made a good save after a Luton man had headed goalwards from a corner, but Reece Burke fired in a volley on the rebound.

Dale made eight changes at the break, but nine minutes after the break Luton added a third, when Harry

Cornick tapped home a low ball across the face of goal.

Aaron Morley fired a first-time effort wide from 20-yards wide after being laid off by Conor Grant, but moments later Luton added their fourth.

A cross from the left was chested down into the path of Cameron Jerome who finished into the bottom corner.

Jay Lynch made a fine diving save to his right from Gabriel Osho’s, who spent the second-half of last season on loan at Dale, stinging effort from 25-yards.

A great spell of football from Dale led to Morley clipping a cross to Keohane at the back post, whose header was well saved by the Luton goalkeeper.

Late on, Alex Newby’s low ball across the face of goal caused panic in the Luton defence but they were able to clear.

Dale are back in action this evening in another behind-closeddoors friendly, this time at the Crown Oil Arena against Barnsley.

FIRST-HALF XI:

Wade, O’connell, Trialist, Dunne, Brierley, Dooley, Rathbone, Scanlon, Odoh, Jesus, Beesley.

SECOND-HALF XI:

Lynch, Kershaw, Trialist, Dunne, Morley, Scanlon, Grant, Keohane, Newby, Yaduat (Mialkowski 67’), Done.