Then in a grandstand finish the home side, on top throughout, were kept at bay by the agility of Dale goalkeeper Mathew Gilks, who gave another impressive display to add to his growing reputation as one of the top young keepers in the lower leagues.
The home side started much the brighter and could have taken the lead within 90 seconds when Gilks did well to keep out a Paul Mullen header.
Having successfully defended a flurry of corners, the visitors opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play when pint-sized former Tranmere Rovers striker Chris Dagnall produced a smart finish to volley home a Lee Crooks free-kick from the middle of a crowded penalty area.
The home side almost hit back within five minutes with central defender Michael Welch producing a volley from one of numerous corners for the home side, only to see Rochdale defender Alan Goodall somehow keep it out of the net with a superb goal-line clearance.
Dale started the better in the second half with Rickie Lambert going very close with a trademark free-kick, but as the half wore on Accrington pushed them further and further back into their own half, inviting increased pressure all the time.
A deserved equaliser finally arrived on 76 minutes when winger Roberts burst into the box before being upended by Rochdale midfielder John Doolan and from the resulting spot-kick Roberts calmly sidefooted the ball home.
In a grandstand finish the visitors were indebted to goalkeeper Gilks as he brilliantly denied Welsh with a flying save and then somehow kept out a Romauld Boco volley with his legs to protect his side's first point of the season.