THERE was an astonishing late miss by the unfortunate Akpo Sodje as dominant Town suffered their second Pontin's League Cup group defeat.
Rochdale led at Rossendale United's appropriately named Dark Lane ground through a breakaway Kevin Townson strike on 77 minutes.
Four minutes later, with Town still bossing the contest and maintaining heavy pressure, Sodje was put through by John McAliskey for a great chance to equalise.
The 22-year-old appeared to have done everything right as he dummied his way around goalkeeper Danny Woodall but, with a defender closing in quickly, he had to rush the finish and crashed his shot against the inside of the left-hand post - the ball rebounding all the way across the goalline to safety.
Sodje returned the favour for McAliskey in the first minute of stoppage time, too, but the tall frontman delayed his shot too long and was robbed of possession by the covering Gary Brown.
Those late misfortunes summed up Town's afternoon at the rainswept and freezing Lancashire venue, because they were well on top despite a couple of quick breaks by Rochdale which were repelled by excellent work from Phil Senior in the visitors' goal.
With Tom Clarke looking assured alongside the solid Steve Yates at the back, there was encouraging play from all the midfield, with Aaron Hardy and Matthew Young working hard and Adnan Ahmed covering his usual ground, but clear-cut chances were hard to fashion in the awful conditions.
Frontman Clive Moyomodise had the best chance of the half for Rochdale on 11 minutes, blocked by the advancing Senior, while John McAliskey - being watched by Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Don Givens - and Sodje were unlucky not to convert half-chances for a Town side playing up a slight slope.
In the second half, Town took complete territorial control and twice went close in the first six minutes.
McAliskey was first to find the gloves of Woodall with a smart left-foot half volley after battling work by Ahmed, who then saw a 20-yarder of his own well saved on the line.
While Senior had to be alert to deny another break from Townson after a slip by Clarke, McAliskey saw a fierce drive brilliantly tipped away while Sodje was inches away from converting a free-kick.
The sucker punch came 13 minutes from time when Leighton McGivern broke down the left and squared for Townson, who got the break of the ball following a challenge by Hardy and slotted a low shot past Senior.
Town, who lost their opening tie to Sheffield Wednesday, went all out for an equaliser, but it wasn't to be.
Town: Senior, Walls, Lloyd, Hardy, Yates, Clarke, Mendes, Ahmed, McAliskey, Sodje, Young.
