Rochade were marching confidently towards the third round of the FA Cup until Bradley Allen spoilt their day.
The 31-year old striker knocked in Rovers face-saving equaliser 13 minutes after being sent on to pep up a lacklustre home attack.
Allen's goal on his home debut cancelled an early strike from Clive Platt which had put the Lancashire club on top against a nervous side, in what was always a low key tie.
Only six minutes had gone when Lee Duffy played a ball in from Rochdale's right and no-one picked up Platt who was allowed to race clear and tuck a shot wide of Scott Howie.
Two minutes later the tie could have been put beyond Rovers who had failed to score in their last three home games.
This time the threat came from the left with a good cross from Matt Doughty and Lee McEvilly rose to meet it but failed to get power or direction behind his header.
Both the sides have been having a bad time in the League, but with the goal behind them Rochdale had an edge to their confidence without quite finding the shots to match it.
They had another chance to add to their lead following a poor back header from Rovers' Chris Plummer, on-loan from QPR, but Paul Connor was slow to react and Howie raced outside his area to head clear.
RoversÂ’ Latvian international Vitalijs Astafjevs squandered their only first half chance heading wide from a couple of yards and an ironic cheer went up when Giuliano Grazioli finally found the target with an over shoulder kick.
It was easily collected by keeper Neil Edwards, and a minute later Graziloi made way for Allen.
He gave the attack more purpose and his goal came after another substitute Kevin Gall had seen his shot blocked.
Rochdale player-manager Paul Simpson groaned: "We had two or three chances to clear that one but overall I still have to be pleased with the result because we are still in the cup."