Dale fans got their first glimpse of Keith Hill's summer additions following the first pre-season friendly on English soil and they must have liked what they saw with Keltie, Toner, Wiseman and Shaw all putting in good performances .  Three goals either side of the break helped Dale secure a very comfortable win over Unibond side Rossendale United at Dark Lane and while the scoreline quite correctly suggests a rout, the Dale boss looked beyond that.

"It was a good performance from us and though I'm happy about scoring six goals, I'm even more pleased with the nil.  We have some good players here and if you can mix that in with plenty of endeavour then you are close to getting that winning formula.

"It was a good training exercise for us and though Sam Russell didn't get much in the way of the exercise he needs, I'm sure he'll get plenty over the coming week."

This was always going to be a tough game for the Unibond side who came up against a very strong looking Rochdale side, tanned and fresh from the week's training in Spain.  With respect to Rossendale, the Dale manager was right about 'keeper Sam Russell who had a very quiet afternoon due to the amount of possession his side enjoyed and playing most of the game in the opposition's half.

From the first whistle to the last Rochdale took the game to their opponents and after five minutes of getting used to the surface, looked as though they'd score virtually every time they went forward.

The Stags held out for seven minutes after a very energetic Adam Le Fondre signalled his intentions going close with an header in the opening exchanges.  The first of four for the Dale striker arrived following excellent work by Will Buckley down the right channel.  His cross into the box was picked out of the air by the Rossendale 'keeper, but he duly dropped the ball at the feet of Le Fondre and he needed no second invitation and lashed the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box.

Scott Wiseman playing at right back showed his attacking qualities getting forward to support Buckley.  The new addition continued his run down the flank before a weight perfect ball from Buckley found Wiseman's feet.  The defender drove into space before delivering a great ball to pick out Le Fondre, but his header was tipped away and the follow up shot by Toner was wide.

Rochdale continued in a relentless display of attacking and it wasn't long before they notched their second of the afternooon.  New striker Shaw showed Dale fans what they can expect to see over the coming months on 20 minutes with a lovely curled effort into the far corner after clever feet opened the angle wide on the lefthand side of the box.

Rochdale were enjoying the game and so too were the fans with good humoured chants and new songs for players both old and new.  Fans got something else to cheer about on the stroke of half-time with another goal for former Stockport County striker Le Fondre.  Once more the keeper will be put down for an assist after spilling a low shot from the impressive Will Buckley.  The ball squirmed away from the grounded stopper and A'lfie' coolly slotted home from six-yards.

The second half saw Adam Rundle replaced by Callum Higginbotham on the left but there were no mass substituitions, in fact it was the only replacement the Rochdale management made.  Changes on the pitch in terms of play were slight, still Dale pressed, still they looked comfortable, but they seemed to have lifted off the pedal a little to begin with.

That said the visitors should have made it four after a ball through a 'wobbly' back four found Le Fobdre but this time he got no help from the 'keeper who got down smartly to make the stop leaving the Dale forward with his head in his hands.

A ball through a 'wobbly' back four found Le Fobdre but this time he got no help from the 'keeper who got down smartly to make the stop leaving the Dale forward with his head in his hands. Yes you are right, you have just read the same sentence twice because it was a 'copy and paste' moment on the pitch five minutes later.  Le Fondre again denied by the Rossendale 'keeper following an almost identical move.

Rochdale did extend their lead just past the hour though it was one that caused quite a bit of debate as to who actually scored.  An excellent cross from the left was met by an equally excellent header from Dale sub Higginbotham.  His effort looked bound for the top corner only for the 'keeper to stretch and tip the ball onto the post.  The ball bounced down on the line and Le Fondre, forever sniffing, bundled the ball home.  The question of whether the ball had already crossed the line was whispered around the terraces and debate began was it Alfie's hat-trick or a first for Higgy?

Answer - It was a hat-trick moment for Le Fondre although you would have thought he was still chasing with two good efforts in side two minutes.  First a well struck low shot tipped round the post followed by a cheeky little number from a corner that clipped the bar.

However, it was Will Buckley who was next to add his name to the score sheet with a very well taken goal with around fifteen minutes to go.  Buckley drove forward with the ball down the left, before beating a defender with excellent footwork and then the 'keeper with a cool, clinical shot.  A goal his truly deserved on this showing.

Shaw could have added his second of the afternoon too as we hit the ten minutes to go mark, but his close range effort found the 'keeper in the right place at the right time from a Rossendale point of view and unwittingly cleared on the line with his feet.

Rochdale fans were sent home with a goal and again it was Le Fondre who scored, this time hooking the ball over his head kick inside the box. 

All in all a good performance from Keith Hill's side who will without doubt face stiffer tests next week.