Keaton Ward had put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute, but Tarryn Allarakhia’s stunning equaliser pulled Dale level heading into the break.
A strong start to the second half paid off when Allarakhia’s cross deflected into the back of the net and ultimately sealed all three points.
Jimmy McNulty made one change from the opening day victory at Boreham Wood, as Tarryn Allarakahia came in for Joe Pritchard on the left. Oliver Whatmuff and Mani Dieseruvwe were making their home debuts.
It was the latter who had the first chance of the game when he met Allarakhia’s corner at the back post, but saw his close-range header come back off the upright.
Moments later, Dale were denied a penalty by referee William Davis when Kyron Gordon felt he was pushed to ground when trying to meet Ryan East’s corner.
However, the visitors took the lead with a sublime strike from Keaton Ward, who met a looping ball on the volley from the edge of the area, finding the far bottom corner.
Kahrel Reddin hit an effort wide for Altrincham on the half-hour mark, but five minutes later, Dale were level.
A corner was partially cleared as far as Allarakhia, who curled a stunning first-time effort in off the underside of the bar from the edge of the area.
McNulty’s men finished the half strongly, with Devante Rodney having a low shot well held and Sam Beckwith hitting one wide from 20 yards.
Dale started the second period as they ended the first, with Gordon sending a shot wide from distance, before Allarakhia had a low prodded effort cleared off the line.
The scorer of Dale’s first then flashed a curling effort narrowly wide of the far post, minutes before Dieseruvwe had a shot from the edge of the area well held.
Dale’s persistence paid off on the hour mark, when Allarakhia’s cross from the left took a deflection off a defender and looped over Altrincham stopper Luke Hutchinson and into the far corner.
The visitors responded as Isaac Marriott fired over and Jimmy Knowles steered a low cross wide.
Their best chance of an equaliser came in the final ten minutes, when Knowles went through one-on-one with Oliver Whatmuff, but the Dale stopper stayed big to deny his effort with his leg.
Whatmuff held Lewis Banks’ tame header in the second of seven added minutes, before a combination of Whatmuff and Beckwith kept out a shot from inside the area out on the line, as Dale held on for a fourth consecutive home win over Altrincham.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, Gordon, East (86’ Pettit), Ebanks-Landell ©, Allarakhia (71’ Tutonda), Gilmour, Dieseruvwe, Rodney (85’ Amantchi), Adebayo-Rowling, Barlow (76’ Pritchard), Beckwith.
Unused subs | Hogan, Moss, Henderson.
Scorers | 35’ 60’ Allarakhia.
Altrincham XI | Hutchinson, Banks ©, Reed, Marriott (79’ Kosylo), Gale (72’ Kirk), Ward (72’ Crankshaw), Knowles (90+3’ Raymond), Reddin (76’ Weaver), Crawford, Golden, Sassi.
Unused subs | Fallon, Barnes.
Scorers | 19’ Ward.
Attendance | 2,940 (430 away).
