Barnet got a dubious, but lifesaving, penalty when after 28 minutes Ian Hendon scored from the spot with a shot to the left of the Rochdale goalkeeper Matt Gilks which was going like a rocket and which nobody could have stopped.
The penalty was given by referee Mr Boyeson after Bees striker Tresor Kandol had gone down in a tackle with Dale defender Gareth Griffiths.
Rochdale reckoned that it was no penalty and claimed that Kandol had dived.
This goal cancelled one out by Rochdale's Chris Dagnall after 23 minutes. Dagnall was there after his two shots had been stopped on the line, being quick enough to make it third time lucky with goalkeeper Ross Flitney not able to get back after having made one good save.
Rochdale just about shaded it, but repeatedly they were foiled by goalkeeper Flitney and their own shooting weaknesses added to their problems.
Late on Barnet rolled up their sleeves and set about looking for a winner with Liam Hatch three times going close and Dean Sinclair also threatening.
Sinclair had a good chance to get all the points for his side, but put the ball over the top and Hatch had the same kind of chance but he too was wide of the mark.
Rochdale almost pinched all the points with a couple of late efforts.
Skipper Gary Jones brought a good save out of Flitney and Flitney was nearly at fault when he failed to hold on to a shot from Rickie Lambert. But he managed to recover the ball and escape from an ugly situation.