Peterborough United suffered a 2-0 defeat on the opening day of the campaign to Rochdale.
Dave Robertson's men were never at the races at Spotland as Rochdale inflicted an opening day defeat on Peterborough United with a goal in either half doing the damage.Joe Gormley squandered the best opening for Posh, who handed Alex Davey a debut at the heart of the defence in the absence of injured pair Michael Smith and Ricardo Almeida-Santos.
After a fairly quiet opening, it was Michael Bostwick who fired the first effort of the game, but his long-range striker comfortably cleared the crossbar.
Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick did well to smother a Camps attempted volley as the home side put together a concerted spell of pressure.
The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes and it was unfortunate for teenage defender Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, whose attempted clearance at full stretch rebounded kindly for Callum CAMPS, who took a touch and poked the ball with his right-foot past Alnwick.
Oliver Lancashire was lucky not to concede an own goal on 25 minutes as excellent one-touch football from Posh down the left ended with a low Maddison cross causing all sorts of problems for the Dale centre back.
Lillis was well-placed to deny a long-range striker by Jon Taylor moments later as Posh began to get to grips with proceedings.
The Dale keeper was called upon again on 36 minutes as he pounced on a flick from Gormley at the second attempt after a cross-shot from Ntlhe.
Ntlhe was booked for obstruction on the stroke of half-time, referee Mr Haines showing the caution for repeated fouling of the same offence.
Alnwick denied Lancashire with his feet moments after the interval after a low centre while a cross from Maddison eluded Washington in the box at the other end.
Bostwick rifled a shot wide of the near post on 53 minutes after a well-worked short corner by Dave Robertson's men.
A deep Davey cross was nodded over the bar at the back post by Gormley on 58 minutes as Posh tried to get themselves back in the game.
Gormley was presented with a clear opportunity to level the scores just after the hour after he was picked out by a clever Maddison pass, but the former Cliftonville man fired wide of the far post with his right-foot.
Rochdale then made a change with the powerful Calvin Andrew introduced for Bunney. The hosts were inches away from making it 2-0 on 68 minutes as a clipped cross from Henderson was misjudged by Alnwick, Vincenti nodded the ball goalwards and watched on as it hit the post.
However, two minutes later, Dale were 2-0 ahead and you couldn't begrudge them that lead, substitute NOBLE-LAZARUS firing low into the corner with his left-foot past Alnwick.
Taylor dragged a shot wide with his right-foot on 72 minutes and moments later Alnwick did well to smother at the feet of substitute Andrew as Rochdale caught Posh on the counter attack.
Harry Anderson replaced Taylor on 75 minutes while Jack Collison replaced Jermaine Anderson. Souleymane Coulibaly replaced Maddison with seven minutes to play.
Alnwick prevented Henderson from adding a third late on with a good stop to his left.
Rochdale: Lillis, McNulty, Lancashire, Vincenti, McDermott (sub Noble-Lazarus 66min), Allen, Cannon, Camps (sub Rose 79min), Kennedy, Bunney (sub Andrew 62min) , Henderson. Unused subs: Eastham, Andrew, Alessandra, Tanser, Diba Musangu.
Posh: Alnwick, Adebayo-Rowling, Zakuani, Davey, Ntlhe, J. Anderson (sub Collison 79min), Taylor (sub H. Anderson 75min), Bostwick, Maddison (sub Coulibaly 83min), Gormley, Washington. Unused subs: Henry, Brisley, Coulibaly, Beautyman, Vassell.
Half time: Rochdale 1-0 Peterborough United
Full-time: Rochdale 2-0 Peterborough United.
Attendance: 3,319