Carlisle player-coach Paul Simpson led by example to end United's five-game goal drought as the Cumbrians won their first game of the season.
After the match the stand-in boss said: "We came out determined not to lose. It's a hell of a relief but we made it difficult after a superb first-half performance when we started like a house on fire." "Confidence should be high after today. We've shown that we've got good players who can come up against good teams and beat them.
"We got sloppy in the second half and it was a bit scary at the end but we've scrapped around at the bottom for too long." Even Rochdale boss Alan Buckley accepted that it would have been rough justice if Carlisle had not won as he said: "We were third best for the first hour and ten minutes.
"The ladies in the function room did better than us. We never competed and didn't get stuck in.
"Our first goal came too late and although we had chances to make it 3-3, that would have made it an undeserved draw." Carlisle-born Simpson quit Rochdale at the end of last season and he fired the Cumbrians in front after only nine minutes, beating Matthew Gilks with a deflected 20-yard left-foot shot from the bottom corner of the net.
Richie Foran netted a second for the division three whipping boys, a tap-in in the 17th minute after Kevin Henderson's header from Simpson's free-kick had thumped back off the bar.
The game had been delayed for half an hour after motorway chaos delayed the visiting fans. But they must have wished the match had started without them after Brendan McGill was picked out by Foran and he picked his spot from 18 yards for United's third.
Carlisle were clearly fired up to get their first win of the season. Simpson orchestrated midfield with Adam Rundle and McGill providing the width.
On-loan signing Henderson linked up well with Foran and gave the Cumbrians strike force bite.
Rochdale did not pose a threat until after Simpson left the field in the 73rd minute. His departure was almost a disaster for Carlisle.
Within two minutes, Rochdale pulled a goal back through Paul Connor, who beat the offside trap to latch onto Wayne Evans' ball over the top before lashing a half-volley past Matty Glennon.
Three minutes later, Gareth Griffiths headed a corner across the face of United's goal and Kevin Townson found the top corner with a close-range header.
Both sides had chances to score in stoppage time, but Chris Billy spurned a chance to get United's fourth and Patrick McCourt drove an 18-yard shot straight at Glennon.
And with the final kick of the match, Glennon blocked a Sean McClare effort on the goal-line to ensure United's won their first game of the season.