He supplied Tyler Smith for an opener inside three minutes, before roles were reversed later in the first-half, as Henderson slotted home a second to ultimately seal victory.
There were five changes to the starting line-up from Wednesday’s win over Solihull Moors. Liam Hogan, Casey Pettit, Aidan Barlow, Tyler Smith and Ian Henderson all came into the starting 11, with Mani Dieseruvwe returning to the squad after injury.
Dale got off to the perfect start, taking the lead inside three minutes. Henderson was at the heart of it, playing a superb through ball to Smith, who slotted home clinically from just inside the area.
Henderson nodded wide, and Harvey Gilmour dragged a shot wide from outside the area, whilst Oliver Whatmuff did well to hold on to Tyler Harvey’s free-kick.
Jimmy McNulty’s men were well in control of the game and were denied by the upright when Barlow opened space on his left foot and curled an effort off the post, before Smith fired a shot over the bar.
The stage looked to be set for Henderson to mark his special occasion with a goal as Dale were awarded a penalty when Kyron Gordon was felled, but the number 40 dragged his spot kick wide.
However, our all-time leading goalscorer was never going to be denied, and he netted his 164th goal for the club three minutes later. Gilmour found Smith with a fine through ball, and despite a challenge from the Truro goalkeeper, the ball fell kindly for Henderson, who slotted home.
The woodwork denied Dale a third before the break, after Tarryn Allarakhia’s superb work down the left led to him finding Gilmour, who rattled one off the bar.
After half-time, the woodwork again came to Truro’s rescue. Barlow was denied at close range, with the ball ricocheting to Connor McBride, whose sliced effort came off the underside of the bar. It fell for Henderson, whose stooped header then came off the upright, before the visitors cleared.
Gordon saw a low effort from distance well beaten away by goalkeeper Aidan Stone and substitute Joe Pritchard dragged one wide as Dale looked to add their tally.
They wouldn’t do so, but played out the remainder of the game comfortably, extending the winning run in the league to three.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon ©, Hogan, Allarakhia (79’ Pritchard), Gilmour, Adebayo-Rowling (65’ Moss), Pettit, Barlow, Perry (79’ Tutonda), Smith (41’ McBride), Henderson (65’ Dieseruvwe).
Unused subs | East, Rodney.
Scorers | 3’ Smith, 35’ Henderson.
Truro City XI | Stone, Riley-Lowe ©, Harrison, Harvey, Palfrey (73’ Bell), Johnson-Fisher (46’ Stretton), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hasani, Jephcott (59’ Law), Donnellan, Charsley.
Unused subs | Lavercombe, Kinsey, Cooper.
Attendance | 3,239 (54 away).
