Dale were beaten 1-0 at Underhill as Barnet secured their Football League safety for another season.
Keith Hill made five changes to the side that was beaten by Burton Albion last Saturday. Frank Fielding came in for Kenny Arthur in net, whilst Marcus Holness was selected in place of Scott Wiseman at right back and Rory McArdle come in for Tom Kennedy at left back. Nathan Stanton and Craig Dawson partnered one another in the centre of defence. Captain Gary Jones, Jason Kennedy and Jason Taylor were in midfield, whilst Joe Thompson and Kallum Higginbotham were ahead of those alongside Chris O'Grady up top.
Whilst this was just another end of season game for Dale, it had everything or nothing riding on it for Barnet. A win would secure their Football League status for next season, but if they failed to pick up all three points and Grimsby beat Burton, they would be relegated.
Keith Hill knew his side would need to put up a strong performance to save the integrity of the league such was the magnitude of the game. However, it was the home side that started the brighter of the two teams.
Mark Hughes put a header from a left wing cross wide, before John O'Flynn forced Frank Fielding into a neat save his near post when a header from Mauro Vilhete was deflected into his path. The Dale stopper did well to keep out the initial effort before collecting it at the second attempt.
Dale's first attempt came with 11 minutes gone when Marcus Holness, playing in the unfamiliar role of right-back, made a surging run down the wing before playing a low ball to Chris O'Grady. Dale's leading scorer took the shot on first time but saw his effort fly well over Jake Cole's crossbar.
As news filtered through that Grimsby were losing and as the half wore on it was clear that the home side were the team with everything to play for. Mark Hughes tested Frank Fielding with a low shot from distance, before Micah Hyde tried his luck with a superbly struck volley from outside the area which Fielding managed to hold onto.
Paul Fairclough's side were piling on the pressure with Frank Fielding having to pull off some good saves to keep them at bay. Hughes struck another shot just wide before Mauro Vilhete, the smallest player on the pitch, rose highest to trouble Fielding with a looping header.
Ahmed Deen almost broke the deadlock with a fine effort from a free kick, but his strike curled just over Fielding's right corner. Then The Bees' danger man, Albert Adomah, forced the Dale stopper into a fine save after a great run and shot, with the on-loan goalkeeper turning the shot wide of his left post.
Without doubt the closest Barnet came to taking the lead was in the 42nd minute when Ed Upson struck the bar. A cross from the right came to Upson at the back stick where his header had Fielding beaten, but it cannoned off the crossbar before being cleared from danger by Craig Dawson.
A rare foray into the Barnet half from Dale came from Jason Kennedy when he took the ball on into a shooting position before forcing Jake Cole into a neat save low to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner.
That was the last close effort of the half, with only Ed Upson hitting a shot well over Frank Fielding's crossbar being of note. The half came to a close with the scorers unharmed, and with Burton Albion winning 2-0 the Underhill faithful were happy.
Although the Grimsby result was going their way, Barnet fans would relax a lot more if their side could find a goal to make sure of their survival. Right-back Joe Devera surged forward before cutting inside onto his left foot and having a shot saved and held by Frank Fielding.
Then came a brilliant chance for Barnet to take the lead. A ball forward from Gary Breen found John O'Flynn who had crept in behind Craig Dawson. He looked to have rounded Frank Fielding as he went one-on-one, but when O'Flynn shot somehow Fielding managed to get across and make a fine save to deny him.
The home side were just getting closer and closer. A corner came out to Ed Upson on the edge of the box and he struck a fine shot towards goal which looked destined for the net, but Kallum Higginbotham had stayed on his post and managed to stop the ball from crossing the line before clearing.
Just one goal would do it for Barnet, and they certainly had the chances to score it. Albert Adomah again showed great pace down the right to cross for Mark Hughes running in, but his shot flew high over the bar.
With little under half an hour to go Keith Hill made two changes. Temitope Obadeyi and Reece Gray came on for Jason Taylor and Chris O'Grady, with Dale reverting to a 4-4-2 with Joe Thompson and Gray up front.
With news coming through that Burton were 3-0 up against Grimsby, the game was becoming meaningless, but the home side were still coming forward in search of a goal. Albert Jarret struck a fierce drive across goal hoping to cause trouble, and he found Albert Adomah who could only turn it wide of Frank Fielding's left post.
It was Adomah again who caused the Dale defence trouble when he came in from the right and tested Fielding with a left foot shot which he palmed away before it was cleared from danger.
With just over a minute remaining, Barnet finally got the goal their domination deserved. Albert Adomah did well down the right before coming inside and electing to pass instead of shoot. The ball ricocheted in the area and eventually found its way to Albert Jarret whose shot was deflected off Marcus Holness and past Frank Fielding to put the home side in front.
As it stood the goal didn't matter too much, but now Barnet were definitely safe and would play league football for another season.
There were three minutes of added time but nothing came from them, and the game ended at 1-0 to Barnet which sparked celebrations and a pitch invasion at Underhill.
Dale: Fielding, McArdle, Stanton, Dawson, Holness, J Kennedy, Jones, Taylor, Thompson, Higginbotham, O'Grady.
Barnet: Cole, Devera, Gillet, Hughes, Breen, Adomah, O'Flynn, Hyde, Deen, Vilhete, Upson.
Referee: Jon Moss. Assistant Referees: Charles Breakspear & Stephen Ross. Fourth Official: Fred Graham.
Attendance: 4,638 (716 Dale fans).
