Rochdale had to do it without three key players, Nathan Stanton, Rory McArdle and Ben Muirhead who were all stuck in horrendous traffic jams on the M62 and had to be taken off the team sheet and replaced.
It looked like being an evening of frustration in the first half as they completely dominated, but were unable to breach the County rearguard.
The home side had two good shouts for penalties as first Stephen Hunt and then Michael Johnson both handled in the box, but referee Whitestone ignored the pleas of the home fans.
The visitors actually came closest to opening the scoring on 35 minutes as the ball pinballed in the home penalty area with keeper Tommy Lee making an exceptional reaction save and then Nathan D'Laryea heading off the line.
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After the break the home side took the game by the scruff of the neck and took the lead on 57 minutes as Rene Howe headed home a Tom Kennedy cross.
Man-of-the-match Adam Rundle doubled his side's lead on 70 minutes, but veteran striker Jason Lee produced a close-range finish to pull them back almost immediately.
The best goal of the game came on 77 minutes as substitute Adam Le Fondre produced a flying header for his 15th goal of the season and six minutes later forced veteran defender Johnson into an embarrassing own goal as his over hit back-pass went wide of keeper Russell Hoult.
The scoring was ended in the dying seconds as Rochdale defender Simon Ramsden pulled down substitute Myles Weston in the box and the visitors best player on the night Neil MacKenzie calmly rolled home the penalty.
While Dale are now firmly into the play-off positions, County can be pushed into the bottom two if neighbours Mansfield Town win at Stockport County on Wednesday evening.