Shrewsbury Town bowed out of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night after a brilliant second-half performance and Nathaniel Muenda's great strike weren't enough to secure progression.
Paul Kyffin put Rochdale in front shortly before half-time when his first-time strike from outside the box nestled in the bottom left-hand corner of Shrewsbury's net.
Muenda equalised for Town just after the hour-mark with a brilliant left-footed finish but Rochdale restored their lead through Oscar Kelly 10 minutes later.
After a scrappy opening half hour in which both teams struggled to get going, Rochdale had the first chance of the night when Darren Ehimamiegho's shot was deflected against the base of Reece Thompson's right post. Fortunately, it bounced straight back into the goalkeeper's grateful grasp.
Just moments later, Muenda brilliantly dribbled past three defenders and delivered a low cross into the box. Dennis Antal collected the ball and played it back out to Nana Owusu, but his cross was collected by Rochdale's number one.
The vistors took the lead in the 37th minute. Vlad Paternoster cut out a through ball but could only send it as far as Kyffin. The midfielder struck an arrow of a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards to put the visitors in front.
Town were by far the better side after the second half got underway. They maintained pressure and even hit the crossbar thanks to Savy Vicente's brilliant effort from 25 yards.
This was a warning shot and just three minutes later, Salop were level. After winning the ball high up the field, Muenda drove into the box and unleashed a fierce left-footed strike past Ellis Craven at his near post.
Unfortunately, Dale restored their lead 10 minutes later. Anisio Jesus picked up a flick-on from Craven's ball out and slid in Kelly down the left. He drove into the area and fired home off the far post.
Town almost equalised immediately when James Warner and Dennis Antal each saw efforts cleared off the line in quick succession. First, Warner's header was cleared to the edge of the penalty box and then, after the ball had been worked wide, Antal's left-footed effort from eight yards was blocked by a flying Rochdale body.
Despite this brilliant second-half display and plenty of chances, Town were unable to find a leveller or winner and bowed out of the FA Youth Cup.
Teams:
Salop XI: Thompson (GK), Owusu (C), Bailey, Hutchings, Paternoster, Warner, Muenda (Bakre, 81'), Vicente, Morris (Bartozzi, 64'), Antal, Knight (Hernes, 58')
Unused subs: Beckles (GK), Watts, Dadie
Rochdale XI: Craven (GK), Cunningham, Sutton, Dos Santos (Bailey, 90+4'), Watts, Nevett, Jesus, Kyffin, Ehimanegho (Yaduat, 76'), Dunlop, Kelly
Unused subs: Anderson, Pozzoni, Greenwell, Burgess
Attendance: 267
