A nightmare start for Town, which saw them concede two goals within the first four minutes, gave them a mountain to climb and it was an early sucker-punch from which they never really recovered. There was plenty of effort and determination on display from both sides but Town rarely found the rhythm so evident in pre-season matches so far.

GOAL - The home side made a dream start when Adam Rundle opened the scoring with a blinding free-kick after just 90 seconds. A set-piece 25 yards out was curled left-footed by midfielder Rundle just inside Matt Glennon's left-hand post totally wrong-footing the keeper who had already started to move in the opposite direction.

GOAL - If Glennon could have done better with Rochdale's opener he certainly could with their second which came just two minutes later from Adam Le Fondre after a howler from the custodian. A simple back pass from Frank Sinclair should have been easily cleared but Glennon fluffed his clearance allowing the Spotland striker the opportunity to pounce on the loose ball and prod home into an empty net.

It could have got worse for Town just 30 seconds later when Frank Sinclair attempted to carry the ball out of defence but his second touch was intercepted by Gary Jones who played Chris Dagnall through on goal but the striker shot just wide.

Former Bradford City midfielder Ben Muirhead had the home side's next effort on target when he collected the ball from Lee Crooks and darted across Town's box before hitting a left foot effort which this time Glennon got his full body behind.

Town had their first effort on target on 11 minutes and it was Chris Brandon who tested Dale 'keeper James Spencer with a vicious shot from outside the area after the home side failed to clear Collins' corner.

Rochdale continued to have the better of the chances and on 26 minutes Muirhead tested Glennon again. A good ball by Crooks to striker Dagnall was chested into the path of Muirhead whose first-time shot was collected by the Town 'keeper at the second attempt.

Dagnall was involved again moments later when he collected Jones' incisive pass and was only a foot wide of Glennon's left-hand post with his curling right-footed effort.

SUB - Dale manager Keith Hill made his first change of the game on 32 minutes replacing Lee Crooks with John Doolan.

With fifteen minutes of the half remaining a back-pass from Andy Holdsworth almost let Dagnall through and only some classy defending Frank Sinclair prevented the striker getting his shot away.

GOAL - Glennon had a chance to atone for his earlier mistake when he faced a Le Fondre penalty on 33 minutes after skipper Jon Worthington had felled the Dale striker in the area. The Town 'keeper guessed the right way, diving to his left, but Le Fondre's shot sneaked underneath his outstretched arms.

HALF TIME: ROCHDALE AFC 3 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0

SUB - Hill made his second change of the game at half time replacing Ben Muirhead with numberless Jerome Watts.

Le Fondre continued to be the main attacking threat and could have had his hat-trick on 50 minutes when he collected the ball on the right flank, beat Frank Sinclair, cut in from the by-line, beating Skarz in the process before shooting just wide.

Luke Beckett attempted to get Town back on track with the Terriers' first effort in the second half. The striker reacted quickest to Cadamarteri's knockdown and hit a first time effort from outside the area which 'keeper Spencer palmed behind for a corner.

SUB - Hill made his third change on the hour mark replacing Adam Rundle with Rory Prendergast.

SUBS - Andy Ritchie made a triple substitution on 63 minutes replacing Chris Brandon with Danny Schofield, David Mirfin with Nathan Clarke and Luke Beckett with Andy Booth.

Town crafted their best move of the game on 68 minutes when Michael Collins forged down the right flank, cut the ball back for Holdsworth who did well to pick out the run of Worthington. Only a clearance off the line by defender Nathan D'laryea prevented further danger.

Le Fondre replied just minutes later after good work by Gary Jones in the centre, but Glennon was equal to the striker's effort from outside the area. This was quickly followed up by a strong run from Dagnall who managed, somewhat fortuitously, to bustle past three Town players before his cross was cleared by Skarz.

SUB - Striker Dagnall was given a rousing ovation when he was replaced by Karl Higginbotham on 77 minutes.

Danny Cadamarteri, who was the pick of Town's players, almost opened the scoring for Ritchie's men with five minutes remaining when he rifled a shot from 8 yards after collecting Boothy's pull-back but fortunate keeper Spencer saved with his legs.

Kamara tested Spencer moments later when he latched onto Schofield's cross from the left, but his header bounced into the arms of the Dale keeper.

Full Time: ROCHDALE AFC 3 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0

Town: Matt Glennon, Andy Holdsworth, Joe Skarz, Michael Collins, David Mirfin (Nathan Clarke 63), Frank Sinclair, Chris Brandon (Danny Schofield 63), Jon Worthington, Luke Beckett (Andy Booth 63), Danny Cadamarteri, Malvin Kamara

Subs not used: Simon Eastwood, Matthew Young, Aaron Hardy,