First-half goals from Devante Rodney and Mani Dieseruvwe put Dale two to the good at the break, with the latter adding a third after the break.
The visitors pulled one back from the spot, but Ian Henderson’s 165th Dale goal sealed a comfortable win.
Jimmy McNulty made two changes to the starting eleven from last week’s 2-1 win at home to Southend United.
Tarryn Allarakhia and Mani Dieseruvwe both returned, with Dan Moss and Ian Henderson dropping to the substitute’s bench.
Dale asserted dominance from the get go, with Dieseruvwe seeing a shot deflected wide, before the returning striker was heavily involved in the sixth minute opener.
He held the ball up well and found Tobi Adebayo-Rowling on the right side, who crossed into the area. The delivery was perfect for Rodney, who calmly glanced a header into the bottom corner.
Rodney almost turned provider shortly afterwards, crossing low towards Dieservuwe, who was denied by the visiting defence.
Coventry City loanee Callum Perry hit a swerving free-kick which had to be tipped behind by Boreham Wood goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.
However, there was nothing the stopper could do prevent Dale’s second just before the half hour mark, when Ryan East’s inswinging corner was met by the head of Dieseruvwe for his 14th goal of the season.
Kyron Gordon, scorer of a spectacular goal last week, flashed a low effort narrowly wide of the far post five minutes before the break.
Dale goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff was called into action three minutes later, getting a strong palm to Zak Brunt’s free-kick to turn over the bar.
It didn’t take long after the break for Dale to all but put the game to bed with a third. Five minutes after the restart, Dieseruvwe picked up on a loose pass in the Boreham Wood defence and drove forward, skilfully taking the ball past a defender and into the area, before finishing clinically.
Whatmuff made a comfortable save when he held on to Marley Marshall-Miranda’s volley, before the stopper was adjudged to have brought down Matt Rush in the area, despite suspicions of offside. Brunt converted the resulting spot kick to reduce Dale’s advantage to two.
Substitute Henderson thought he had restored the three goal cushion moments later, but saw his powerful header ruled out for offside. However, he would not be denied three minutes later.
Gordon played a fine ball in behind for Aidan Barlow, who showed great composure before sending a low cross into the area, where Henderson slammed home from close range.
Joe Pritchard had a shot blocked as the clock wound down, with Dale comfortably holding on to the three-goal margin to go back to the top of the league.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East (77’ Pettit), Ebanks-Landell ©, Allarakhia (77’ Pritchard), Gilmour, Dieseruvwe (65’ Henderson), Rodney (55’ Moss), Adebayo-Rowling, Burger (65’ Barlow), Perry.
Unused subs | Hosannah, Duku.
Scorers | 6’ Rodney, 29’ 50’ Dieseruvwe, 75’ Henderson.
Boreham Wood XI | Ashmore, Coxe, Bush ©, O’Connell, Brunt, Abdulmalik, Newton, Clayden, Marshall-Miranda, Kensdale (76’ Henry), Rush.
Unused subs | Curd, Payne, Norris, Richardson, Robinson.
Scorers | 71’ Brunt (p).
Attendance | 2,356 (35 away).
