Dale ran out comfortable winners on Tuesday afternoon, beating Tranmere Rovers 3-0 away from home.
All three goals came in the second half, after Dale produced a dominant and energetic performance right until the final whistle.
Goals from Jordan Scanlon, Joe Wright and Ben Kershaw’s late free-kick were enough for all three points in Dale’s penultimate league game of the season.
The first sight on goal came when Adam Cullen fed Scanlon but his shot went wide of the post.
Brad Kelly then had to make a couple of important saves to keep Tranmere at bay and ensure the scores remained level.
Scanlon went close once more, chipping the ball over the ‘keeper but it was somehow kept out.
At half-time, Joe Wright and Paul Kyffin were introduced, replacing Adam Cullen and Louie Clarkson.
Wright was in the thick of things straight away and went close with a shot that travelled just wide of the far post.
Dale broke the deadlock moments later, Peter Thomas with some excellent pressing before teeing up Scanlon who finished from close range.
Thomas won the ball back once more and drove forward, before finding substitute Wright who made no mistake in doubling Dale’s lead.
Kershaw went close from a free-kick but it was tipped behind for a corner, with the midfielder also hitting the bar from the resulting set-piece.
The game was wrapped up when Kershaw got another chance from a free-kick – this time he placed the ball perfectly into the top corner – leaving the ‘keeper with no chance.
The result sees Dale record an important victory ahead of their final league game of the season at home to Morecambe on Saturday.
Dale are also in action next Wednesday in the Youth Alliance League Cup Final when they travel to the Priestfield Stadium to face Gillingham.
DALE XI | Kelly, Chorlton, Kinsella, Kyle, D’Souza, Kershaw, Clarkson (46’), Mialkowski, Scanlon, Thomas (90+1’), Cullen (46’).
SUBS | Chalton, Caldwell (71’), Watts (90+1’), Kyffin (46’), Wright (46’) (71’).