John Bailey's men took a 14th minute lead when Shaun Lister lashed a 20-yard piledriver into the far top corner.
Dale equalised on 65 minutes, though, when new-boy Jim McCluskie headed firmly home from 12 yards.
But the Blues capped a fine display when Mark Robinson fired in the winner from close range with 15 minutes left.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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