Late goals from Chris Dagnall and Adam Rundle sank promotion-chasing Lincoln. David Perkins and Louis Dodds combined well in the first half to set up Rundle but he fired into the side-netting.
Perkins went close after the break with a close-range volley saved by Alan Marriott, but Lincoln substitute Junior Mendes fired their best chance wide.
Dagnall slotted home Rundle's cross with two minutes left and Rundle rounded things off after Dagnall hit a post three minutes into time added on.
Rochdale: Gilks, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Goodall, Muirhead, Doolan, Perkins, Rundle, Murray (Dagnall 58), Dodds (Reet 82).
Subs Not Used: Rigby, Poole, Jackson.
Booked: Ramsden, Goodall.
Goals: Dagnall 89, Rundle 90.
Lincoln City: Marriott, Eaden, Beevers, Brown, Green, Amoo (Frecklington 67), Holmes (N'Guessan 87), Kerr, Hughes (Mendes 80), Forrester, Stallard.
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Mayo.
Booked: Green.
Att: 2,911.
Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).