The Rovers needed a win to keep their play-off place a possibility but after a lively start and one or two missed chances they faded away and with only 10 men in the second half they were outplayed. But they did almost manage to snatch an equaliser late in the second half but their hopes died when Ernie Cooksey headed home Rochdale's second in injury time.
Rochdale wasted a lot of chances and in the closing 10 minutes they missed three open goals through Cooksey, Gareth Griffiths and substitute Blair Sturrock.
And on top of that Lambert, taking his second penalty after Cartwright had been brought down late on, saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Scott Shearer.
Wasteful forwards on both sides had an influence on the game with Rovers going close late on in a bid to save a point. Junior Agogo was the unlucky man who saw his shot well saved by Matthew Gilks and Gilks was there to foil him again in the next minute when a determined Agogo gave the home defence the slip but gave himself the slip as well when he only half hit his shot.
The turning point came just before half time when Hinton clashed with Lambert and the Rochdale man went through with only the goalkeeper to beat. It was a clumsy tackle but the rules are harsh and Lambert as well as conceding a penalty got the red card as well.
The Rovers with Division One in sight put up a valiant display in the second half and Rochdale had their dodgy moments but the Rovers had not the marksmen or the numbers to cash in.