Trailing by one at the break, the visitors added two goals in three minutes after half-time, before Ed Francis was sent off with 30 minutes remaining.
Gillingham added a fourth before debutant Charlie Tasker scored a late consolation for Ian Watson’s men.
The Dale Head Coach made two changes from Tuesday’s starting eleven. Ethan Ebanks-Landell, who went off midway through the first half with an injury, missed out altogether, with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling dropping to the bench. There was a debut for deadline day signing Tasker, whilst Zain Silcott-Duberry also started.
Dale started brightly, winning a free-kick in a dangerous position inside the first minute, which Ed Francis struck off target.
Mani Dieseruvwe, skippering the side in the absence of Ebanks-Landell and Ryan East, struck the frame of the goal in the 12th minute with a header from Francis’ corner.
Luke Hannant was proving a threat on the right with a number of crosses into the area, one of which was almost met by Silcott-Duberry and Dajaune Brown, neither of whom could turn goalwards.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock, though, shortly after the half hour mark, when James Brophy curled a stunning effort into the far top corner from just outside the Dale area.
Nils Ramming saved from Ronan Hale just a minute later, whilst at the other end, Brown and Dieseruvwe couldn’t force home after Silcott-Duberry had driven into the box, before Brown swung a boot at a Hannant cross but couldn’t connect properly.
After the break, Dieseruvwe headed over and Baba Adeeko had a shot blocked at source, before a quickfire double for the visitors took the game away from Dale.
Firstly, Omar Beckles turned home from close range after Kaiden Wilson’s defensive header struck Hannant.
Then, Lamin Sillah’s header found its way into the back of the net from a central position.
Dale’s misery was compounded on the hour mark when Francis was issued a second yellow card.
Dieseruvwe and Hannant were denied in quick succession as Dale tried to find a way back into the game, before a mazy run from Brophy ended with a cool finish inside the area to extend the Gills’ lead to four.
Hale hit two efforts off target before seeing another saved by Ramming, and although Tasker headed home a late consolation on his professional debut, it proved to be a difficult day for Dale.
Dale XI | Ramming, Tasker, Wilson, Dieseruvwe © (88’ Henderson), Silcott-Duberry (65’ Gilmour), Francis, Adeeko, Hannant (81’ Smith), Taylor, Moss, Brown (81’ Middleton).
Unused subs | Waller, Adebayo-Rowling, Sherring.
Scorers | 87’ Tasker.
Gillingham XI | Wright, McManus (46’ McKenzie), Smith, Goodwin (18’ Sillah), Hale, Brophy, Beckles ©, Freeman, Waldock (73’ Kendall), Dobbs (64’ Daley), Obiero (18’ King).
Unused subs | Holtam, McCleary.
Scorers | 32’, 68’ Brophy, 53’ Beckles, 56’ Sillah.
Attendance | 4,003 (388 away).
