Devante Rodney struck late to hand Rochdale a 2-1 comeback win at Southend on the final day of the National League season.
The Shrimpers needed just seven minutes to force their way ahead when they worked the ball from the back for Jack Bridge to send a cross to the far post, where Gus Scott-Morriss slid it home.
Danny Waldron might have doubled the lead within seconds but fired over before Bridge curled an attempt just too high and Dale were level three minutes before the break when Cian Hayes dispossessed Ollie Kensdale and rounded keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi to score.
Rodney fired just over four minutes after the restart before playing in Kairo Mitchell to shoot inches wide with the visitors pressing once again.
Rodney sent another effort past the post as time ran down but he made no mistake after being played in by Ian Henderson in stoppage time.
