Dale picked up a third consecutive win with a 2-1 win at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.
A wonder strike from Cian Hayes and a classic Ian Henderson chip earned Dale a third win in seven days, despite a late goal from the hosts.
Jimmy McNulty named one change to the starting eleven from Tuesday night’s win, as Ian Henderson came in for Kairo Mitchell, who missed out through injury. Tyrese Sinclair returned to the matchday squad after five weeks out injured.
Early on, despite seeing a lot of the ball, Dale struggled to create a clear-cut opening and it was the hosts who had the better of the chances. Inih Effiong had two efforts, one from distance and a close-range header, that didn’t trouble Louie Moulden, before the Dale stopper had to stick out a leg to deny a one-on-one effort after the Dagenham striker latched on to a ball over the top.
Midway through the half, Dale’s began to turn their control of possession into chances at goal, with Ryan East having a shot blocked after a well-constructed move.
On the half hour mark, Dale took the lead, in sublime style. Adam Clayton sprayed a ball out to Hayes on the right touchline, who cut inside on to his left and fired a dipping effort into the top corner, off the underside of the bar, from 25-yards.
The on-loan Fleetwood Town man tried a similar effort minutes later, but this time his shot flew wide of the far post.
Josh Hare swept an effort wide of Moulden’s goal from close range for the hosts, before Dale had chances to double the lead before the break.
Henderson got something on Jesurun Uchegbulam’s cross, looping the ball into the arms of the goalkeeper, before Hayes had a shot blocked on the edge of the area after cutting inside on his left foot again.
Uchegbulam then did well to keep a ball in play on the left touchline before driving into the area, but he fired a shot off target.
After the interval, Effiong headed wide for the hosts, before Dale doubled the lead eight minutes after the restart.
He put a Dagenham defender under pressure on the halfway line, forcing him into a mistake as he tried to play the ball back to his goalkeeper. Dale’s all-time leading goal scorer drove forward and with the goalkeeper advancing, he lifted it over him and into the net.
McNulty’s men continued to control the possession after the goal, with Gilmour seeing a free-kick blocked by the wall and Hayes having a near post shot saved by Elliot Justham.
However, the hosts pulled a goal back after the game entered the final ten minutes. George Nevett’s attempted clearance hit Frank Vincent and fortuitously fell for him to slot home from close-range.
Dale almost restored the two goal lead less than two minutes later, when Hayes saw a shot from the edge of the area tipped over the bar.
Myles Weston had a shot well held by Moulden in the final minute, but despite the hosts attempting to build up a head of steam to snatch an equaliser, Dale defended calmly and never really looked in danger of giving up the lead, to make it three wins in succession and move up to eighth in the table.
Dale XI | Moulden, Keohane, Ebanks-Landell, Nevett, John, Clayton, Gilmour, East (86’ Taylor), Hayes, Uchegbulam (67’ Rodney), Henderson.
Unused subs | B Kelly, Sinclair, Oduroh.