Dale picked up a Boxing Day three points with a 2-0 win over AFC Fylde at the Crown Oil Arena.
Ian Henderson’s 200th goal in English football put Dale ahead on the stroke of half-time, before Kwaku Oduroh’s first professional goal sealed the win late on in the second period.
Jimmy McNulty named an unchanged side from Saturday’s draw at FC Halifax Town, with new signing Finlay Armstrong making his home debut.
Dale controlled possession in the first period, with only a few half-chances created by either side for the majority of it.
Josh Kay fired an effort off target for the visitors whilst also seeing a shot held by Louie Moulden.
Jimmy Keohane had a shot well blocked whilst the Fylde defence held firm in and around their own penalty area to keep Dale at bay.
However, on the stroke of half-time, the deadlock was broken. Moulden sent a superb long pass over the top of the visiting defence which Henderson ran on to. With goalkeeper Theo Richardson coming off his line, Dale’s all-time leading goal scorer lofted the ball over him and into the back of the net for a trademark Henderson goal, bringing up yet another goalscoring milestone.
After the break, the visitors created the better of the chances. Former Dale loanee Max Conway fired an effort off target, before Moulden held a Kay shot well.
Henderson sent a header wide from a Ryan East free-kick delivery, shortly before Moulden made two crucial one-on-one saves. The first was from Danny Ormerod, before the second from Jon Ustabasi saw the Dale stopper get clattered in a brave stop. Fortunately, he was okay to continue.
With the Coasters piling on the pressure late on, goalkeeper Richardson joined their attack from a corner kick.
When Moulden claimed the delivery, he bowled it out to Oduroh on the halfway line, who drove at goal. After getting past their final defender, and with the goalkeeper nowhere near getting back to his own area, the substitute rolled the ball home from 25-yards to spark great celebrations and seal the three points.
Dale XI | Moulden, Keohane, Ebanks-Landell ©, Nevett, Armstrong, Gilmour, John, Sinclair (90' Oduroh), Uchegbulam (73' Afuye), East (88' Taylor), Henderson.
Unused subs | Edwards, Burgess.