WITH the big League I opener at home to Yeovil just a fortnight away, sluggish Town were handed a major wake-up call as they slumped to a 3-0 friendly defeat at Rochdale.

Andy Ritchie’s men had sailed through their first four pre-season friendlies, all against non-league sides.

But they hit rough waters at Spotland, where the League II hosts took an early grip – and never let go.

Town were two down with just three minutes, 35 seconds on the clock, goalkeeper Matt Glennon being at fault on both occasions.

Skipper Jon Worthington then gave away a penalty two minutes before the break, and Adam Le Fondre slotted his second goal of the game to wipe out any realistic chance of a comeback.

It has to be said that Rochdale – tough, quick, well organised and sharp up front – produced the kind of performance to get punters flocking to the bookies.

As for Town, it must be hoped they are work in progress, and Ritchie will certainly be looking for a big response at home to Blackburn tomorrow.

Danny Cadamarteri, who worked hard up front and was desperately unlucky not to claim an 84th-minute consolation goal, was the only Town player to emerge with any real credit.

Fellow new signing Malvin Kamara was unable to impose himself on the right flank.

Worthington and Collins were largely bossed out of the game by Rochdale’s muscular midfielders Gary Jones, Lee Crooks and John Doolan.

And a back four of Andy Holdsworth, David Mirfin, Frank Sinclair and Joe Skarz never looked at ease.

Having conceded only two in the previous four run-outs, Town’s goals against tally was doubled in alarmingly quick time.

Skarz was penalised for a foul on striker Chris Dagnall, and with only 67 seconds gone, left winger Adam Rundle took advantage of the decision not to form a wall by curling the 20-yard free-kick into Glennon’s left-hand corner.

The keeper’s clear frustration grew further two minutes later when he made a hash of dealing with a Skarz back-pass.

The chasing Le Fondre, snapped up from Stockport over the close-season after a successful loan spell at Dale last time around, could hardly believe his luck as he poked the ball home.

Town were reeling, and a minute later, former Tranmere man Dagnall came close to making it three when he fired an effort across the face of goal after Jones had robbed Sinclair.

Town’s only genuine first-half chance came on 11 minutes, when Chris Brandon, playing wide left, whistled in a low shot which James Spencer did well to hold.

At the other end, Glennon saved from Bradford old boy Ben Muirhead before Dagnall fired narrowly wide after a mazy run from midfield.

Centre-back Sinclair, who was doing his best to spark some attacks, showed his experience by tracking back and robbing Dagnall with a well-timed penalty-area tackle as the home favourite shaped to shoot in the 35th minute.

But the Dale fans did get another goal to cheer on 43 when Le Fondre was felled by Worthington, and got up to slot the spot kick past Glennon, who dived the right way (to his left), but couldn’t reach the well-placed strike.

Town were marginally better in the second half, and Luke Beckett had a 52nd-minute shot pushed wide by Spencer.

Rochdale remained dangerous, however, and Le Fondre had a 72nd-minute shot saved by Glennon before Skarz got in a crucial block a minute later after Dagnall shrugged off attempted tackles by Nathan Clarke, Holdsworth and Sinclair.

With six minutes to go, home keeper Spencer blocked with his legs as Cadamarteri shot low from Andy Booth’s lay-off.

Town: Glennon, Holdsworth, Skarz, Collins, Mirfin (N Clarke, 63mins), Sinclair, Brandon (Schofield, 63), Worthington, Beckett (Booth, 63), Cadamarteri, Kamara.