Mani Dieseruvwe scored his third goal of the new National League season as Rochdale climbed to the top of the table after a 4-0 drubbing of Gateshead.
Skipper Ethan Ebanks-Landell headed Dale into a 13th-minute lead after Dieseruvwe had turned a Joe Pritchard delivery back across goal.
It was 2-0 two minutes before the restart when Dieseruvwe struck, providing the finishing touch after Devante Rodney had escaped his marker and picked him out.
Rodney helped himself to the third with 20 minutes remaining when he slotted home after Aidan Barlow’s initial effort had been saved, and substitute Connor McBride completed the scoring with a 79th-minute strike.
