Dale put in an excellent display to see off Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday afternoon at Bower Fold, winning 2-0.
Goals courtesy of Jordan Scanlon and Joe Wright were enough for all three points in a dominant performance from start to finish.
The first chance of the match fell to Adam Cullen who found space down the right before being expertly denied by Luke Hutchinson in the Bolton goal.
Dale were denied once more by the Bolton stopper, when Cullen was again thwarted at close range.
Following some neat build-up play, the deadlock was broken. Wright showed great pace down the left before cutting the ball back for Scanlon to finish from close range to put Dale in front.
Just five minutes later, Wright got his name on the scoresheet after converting from a Louie Chorlton cross after he showed great pace down the right flank.
On the stroke of half-time, Scanlon nearly doubled his tally with a long-range effort but it was tipped behind. Ethan Pye went close from the resulting corner.
In the second-half, Wright was played in behind the Bolton defence by Scanlon, but he missed a chance to put the game to bed.
Wright had another chance when he was found by Cullen this time, but he couldn't convert after being one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
Bolton were reduced to ten men late on when their right-back dived in the area befored showing dissent to the referee and was shown a straight red card.
Dale almost added a third when substitute Ben Kershaw side-footed a volley towards goal, but it bounced back out off the post.
Peter Thomas, also introduced as a second-half substitute, was then denied by another point-blank save from the Bolton ‘keeper.
The game finished 2-0 and the result capped off a great performance for Chris Brown’s side.
Dale XI | Kelly, Chorlton, Kinsella, Pye, D'Souza, Nock, Clarkson, Kyffin, Scanlon, Cullen, Wright.
Subs | Craven, Lee, Kershaw, Thomas, Jesus.