Calvin Andrew scored one and assisted another as Rochdale dashed Slough Town’s dream and progressed to the Emirates FA Cup third round with a 4-0 win.
Andrew struck early in the first half with a neat finish but Slough were not short of chances and went close to an equaliser on several occasions.
But Callum Camps’ delightful free-kick settled the tie mid-way through the second half before Andrew’s header set up Ian Henderson to lash home a third and Matt Done slotted in a fourth.
Rochdale will now play Doncaster Rovers for a place in the fourth round next month.
With 81 league places between the two sides, Rochdale arrived at Arbour Park as the heavy favourites and it took them less than 15 minutes to make the breakthrough.
A whipped in ball from left-back Joe Bunny found Andrew in the box and he coolly finished it low past goalkeeper Jack Turner.
Slough responded and went close to an equaliser as Warren Harris crossed for Matt Lench but his header just flew over.
Rochdale continued to control much of the match and almost doubled their lead just before the break as Andrew had an effort cleared off the line before his header from the resulting corner hit the bar.
Slough almost capitalised as Nathan Smart’s cross found Lee Togwell six yards out but he headed inches wide.
The visitors hit the post again after the break as Henderson lashed a shot against the woodwork before Slough’s James Dobson forced Josh Lillis into a flying save with a neat header.
But Rochdale added a second as Camps floated his free-kick into the top corner.
Slough did not give up and pressed hard in search of a goal, with Smart smacked the underside of the crossbar at the end of another superb move.
However, Henderson’s close-range volley wrapped it up before Done broke clear and fired in a fourth in stoppage time.
