Marine continued their warm up programme with a curtailed defeat at the Arriva Stadium on Tuesday, visitors Rochdale scoring the only goal of the game on 40 minutes.

Floodlight switching problems saw a five minute half time break and the game end after 82 minutes, although there had been little sign of the Mariners equalising had the remaining eight minutes been played.

There was plenty of crisp passing on show from both sides on the immaculate playing surface, but relatively few clear cut scoring chances in a pretty even contest.

Dean Pye had to be alert in the Marine goal to push a couple of long range shots away, from Ian Craney and Olivier Mukandi as Dale started brightly.

Nick Rogan did well to fashion an opening for the Whites, his shot being deflected away for a corner, before Michael Ordish put a dangerous cross in to the Rochdale penalty area.

Rogan had another effort parried at the foot of the near post by Josh Lillis, but Rochdale continued to press but were unable to get shots on target from several promising positions.

The visitors were gifted the only goal of the game when Andy Fowler undercooked a backpass, Danny Johnson nipping in to dribble round Pye and slide the ball home.

Early in the second half Rogan fed Marcus Carver with just a little too much pace on the pass, Lillis coming sharply off his line to smother at the feet of the former Accrington man.

Godwin Abadaki thumped a drive in to the side netting for Dale, Ray Putterill having another long distance effort palmed away by Pye as the game came to a close.

Marine: Dean Pye, Shaun Dowling, John Shaw, Matty Brown, Danny Grannon, Robbie Lawton, Andy Fowler (Matty Devine 45), Thomas Moore (Paul Brown 57 (Liam Dawson 72)), Marcus Carver (John Driscoll 57), Nick Rogan (Tony Sayer 57), Michael Ordish (Paul Lundon 72).

Unused subs: Connor Millington, Liam Duff, Carl McKenna.

Rochdale: Josh Lillis, Sam Minihan, Joe Rafferty, Rhys Bennett, Neill Byrne, Brian Barry-Murphy (Reece Gray 45), Domaine Rouse, Ian Craney, Danny Johnson, Luke Watson (Ray Putterill 45), Olivier Mukandi (Godwin Abadaki 45).

Unused subs: Bernie Himer, Matty Pearson.

Referee: Mr. Peter Wright; Assistants Mr. Mark Murphy, Mr. Kieran Johnson.

Attendance: 211