Tyrese Sinclair and Ian Henderson scored their tenth goals of the season as Dale ran out 2-0 winners at home to Kidderminster Harriers.
After a goalless first-half, a moment of improvisation from Sinclair on the hour mark broke the deadlock, before Henderson slid home a second 11 minutes later to seal the three points.
Kyron Gordon came in for his Dale debut, whilst Sinclair returned from a one-match suspension, in place of Kwaku Oduroh and the injured Jesurun Uchegbulam. Kyle Ferguson returned to the squad after over two months out through injury.
Neither side create too much by way of goalscoring opportunities in the first-half, with Ashley Hemmings having the visitors’ best two efforts, firing one wide and the other straight at Louie Moulden.
Ryan East and Cameron John both had shots blocked for Dale, who dominated possession, but couldn’t trouble Christian Dibble in the Harriers goal.
However, 15 minutes after the break, the goalkeeper was beaten by a spectacular effort from Sinclair.
Max Taylor clipped a ball forward for Sinclair to chase on to, and with his back to goal, he chested it down, turned and hit a looping volley over Dibble, to reach double figures in all competitions.
A little over ten minutes later, the lead was doubled. East sent a free-kick into the Kidderminster area, which Taylor stabbed goal wards for a second assist of the game, allowing Henderson to slide in from close range and turn home.
Dale never looked in any danger of allowing their opponents back into the game, and any brief glimpses of hope were quashed by strong defending, with Ethan Ebanks-Landell putting in at least one great block.
It was a third home clean sheet in a row for Jimmy McNulty’s men, who ended the night in the final National League playoff spot.
Dale XI | Moulden, Gordon (70’ Ferguson), Taylor, Ebanks-Landell, Armstrong, John, Gilmour, Sinclair (85’ Oduroh), Keohane, East, Henderson (90’ Burgess).
Unused subs | Oduroh, Ferguson, Edwards.