Mani Dieseruvwe’s 23rd goal of the season put Dale ahead at the break, with a Casey Pettit stunner and an Ethan Ebanks-Landell header added to it in the second-half.
A late goal from Eastleigh proved to be just a consolation, as Dale went back to the top of the Enterprise National League following York City’s win earlier in the day.
Jimmy McNulty named the starting eleven as in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Boston United, with Bryce Hosannah back amongst the substitutes.
Dale set the tone from the outset, with Devante Rodney curling an effort wide inside two minutes and Dan Moss flicking a header wide from a corner.
Rodney and Aidan Barlow hit further efforts off target, and Dieseruvwe saw a shot deflected behind, but he wouldn’t have to wait long for his 23rd league goal of the campaign.
It was a wonderfully crafted move from McNulty’s men, with East finding Barlow on the right. He sent an inch-perfect low ball into the middle, where Dieseruvwe slid home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Rodney had a shot deflected behind, before he and Barlow forced Eastleigh stopper Nick Townsend into saves towards the end of the first-half which Dale thoroughly dominated.
And they picked up where they left off after the break, with Rodney feeding a superb through ball to Dieseruvwe, whose shot across goal was turned away from danger.
Barlow was inches away from turning a Moss cross home before the latter saw a shot from point-blank range superbly blocked and eventually smothered by Townsend.
However, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do about Dale’s second. After some intricate play on the edge of the Eastleigh area, the ball was set to Pettit, who took a touch out of his feet before rifling one into the top corner, and in off the underside of the bar.
He had another effort deflected behind and then turned provider for Dale’s third.
Relentless pressure led to Dieseruvwe winning a free-kick in the right channel. Pettit’s whipped delivery was met by the head of Ebanks-Landell, who powered home, again off the underside of the bar.
The hosts did pull one back late on through substitute Jake Tabor, with their first real chance of the game, and despite some late pressure, Dale comfortably held on for another vital three points.
Eastleigh XI | Townsend, Brindley (62’ Humphries), Eweka, Blair, Saunders, Lundstram, Waruih, Effiong (73’ Tabor), Cousins © (73’ Waite), Harris, Maher (73’ Evans).
Unused subs | McNamara, Vokins, Giles.
Scorers | 88’ Tabor.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East (80’ Francis), Ebanks-Landell ©, Allarakhia, Dieseruvwe (80’ Henderson), Rodney (72’ Smith), Pettit, Barlow (72’ Burger), Moss (72’ Bilongo), Perry.
Unused subs | McBride, Hosannah.
Scorers | 18’ Dieseruvwe, 61’ Pettit, 71’ Ebanks-Landell.
Attendance | (334 away).
