The evenly-contested match was heading for a goalless draw until the visitors scored twice in the last 10 minutes.

Jamie Forrester netted the first from close range on 81 minutes, following up Adam Smith's angled drive which had been parried by goalkeeper Sam Russell.

And the win was wrapped up when Lee Frecklington blasted a low drive in off the post two minutes later.

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Thompson, Doolan, Jones, Rundle, Le Fondre (Higginbotham 58), Murray (McEvilly 74).
Subs Not Used: Spencer, Perkins, Holness.

Booked: Thompson, Murray.

Lincoln City: Marriott, Green, Beevers, Brown, Ridley, Forrester, Frecklington, Clarke, Dodds, Wright (Adam Smith 60), John-Lewis.
Subs Not Used: Moses, Amoo, Hone, Benjamin Smith.

Booked: Brown.

Goals: Forrester 82, Frecklington 83.

Att: 2,721