Rochdale recovered from an early deficit to earn three valuable points in their bid for a play-off place.

Striker Barry Conlon fired Darlington in front as early as the fourth minute when he chested down Paul Heckingbottom's long throw-in before swivelling and burying the ball past Rochdale goalkeeper Neil Edwards.

But the home side bounced back three minutes later through Clive Platt's equaliser, which he chipped over goalkeeper Chris Porter.

Rochdale striker Lee McEvilly put his side in front just before the half-hour when his 18-yard thunderbolt came back off the bar and bounced over the line.

Paul Simpson wrapped the game up 10 minutes before the break with his third goal in four games.

Rochdale: Edwards, Evans, Jobson, Griffiths, Doughty, Flitcroft, Oliver, McLoughlin, Simpson, McEvilly, Platt. Subs: Gilks, Coleman, Townson, McCourt, Durkan.

Darlington: Porter, McGurk, Reed, Craig Liddle, Heckingbottom, Hodgson, Ford, Atkinson, Clark, Conlon, Naylor. Subs: Brumwell, Maddison, Convery, Wainwright, Sheeran.

Referee: A Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield)