Rochdale got their first point of the season but had to work had for it at unbeaten Hereford United, who missed good chances to clinch the win.
After a scrappy start to the game, it was Dale who drew first blood in the 21st minute.
Chris Dagnell was racing across the penalty area when he was brought down by Karl Broadhurst.
The Hereford skipper earned a yellow card for his indiscretion and Dagnell picked himself up to send Wayne Brown the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Bulls took just five minutes to get back on terms. Broadhurst's quickly-taken free-kick reached Lionel Ainsworth and the winger's pass sent Theo Robinson away to fire past James Spencer.
Ainsworth then sent a free-kick inches the wrong side of an upright as Hereford began to take charge.
And it took an excellent save from Spencer to deny Trevor Benjamin two minutes before the interval when the big striker got in a header from Trent McClenahan's cross. Richard Rose drove the loose ball narrowly wide.
Spencer was in the action again ten minutes into the second half as Hereford made a good start to the period.Clint Easton worked his way around the back of the Dale defence before finding Benjamin and the former Leicester striker's shot on the turn was blocked at point-blank range for a corner by the keeper.
As the half progressed, the heat and some frequent interruptions from referee Graham Horwood's whistle disrupted the flow.
But Hereford looked the more likely to break through, although they were unable to take advantage when the visitors were reduced to ten men late on.
Dave Perkins, who had been cautioned in the 66th minute, picked up a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on McClenahan four minutes from time.