Rochdale moved into the League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win over Grimsby Town.
Dale upto second after seeing off lowly Mariners
Rochdale moved into the League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win over Grimsby Town.
Two early goals were enough to see off the troubled Mariners, who had manager Mike Newell banned from the dug-out for the second half.
The opening goal arrived in the fourth minute when Adam Rundle cut in the from left and sent a 20-yard shot goalward, the effort taking a heavy deflection to leave Grimsby goalkeeper Wayne Henderson wrong-footed.
Rochdale made it two in the 11th minute when Rundle released striker Adam Le Fondre - who appeared to be offside. But while the Grimsby defence appealed to referee Trevor Kettle, Le Fondre charged through unchallenged and fired past Henderson.
Grimsby went close just before the break when Adrian Forbes' strike was tipped onto the crossbar by Frank Fielding.
Mariners boss Newell was sent off at the break for protesting about Rochdale's second goal and while Jean-Paul Kalala tested Fielding early in the second period, the hosts were always in control.
