It took 25 minutes of cagey football to produce a chance of note when the home side's leading scorer Grant Holt forced an excellent save out of Iron keeper Paul Musselwhite.
At the other end good play by veteran winger Peter Beagrie provided a chance for giant striker Steve Torpey, but he only managed to head the ball into the side netting.
After the break Beagrie went close with a free-kick and Torpey blazed over with the goal at his mercy as Rochdale were pushed back.
A potential turning point came on the hour when Beagrie was very lucky not to sample an early bath when referee Laws showed incredible leniency after he clearly head butted Holt.
With the game stretched, Holt again went closest to breaking the deadlock but saw his long range effort well saved by Musselwhite.