Rochdale ensured promotion back to the English Football League on penalties after a dramatic National League promotion final against Boreham Wood at Wembley.
Dale bounced back – three years after their 102-year stay in the Football League was ended – in a manner almost as dramatic as the way they missed out on automatic promotion 15 days earlier courtesy of York City’s 103rd-minute equaliser, which ensured the Minstermen went up instead of Dale.
Mani Dieseruvwe headed an equaliser in the 97th minute as Dale came from 2-0 down with 13 minutes remaining to force extra-time and on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff was the hero with two saves as they prevailed 3-1 on spot-kicks.
Wood were within seconds of reaching the EFL for the first time in their 78-year history, despite having been beaten home and away by Dale during the regular season and finishing 16 points behind Jimmy McNulty’s side.
Fleet-footed Abdul Abdulmalik was the star for the Hertfordshire side, who only came back up via the National League South play-offs 12 months ago, teeing up the opening goal for Matt Rush midway through the first half before curling home through a crowd from a corner halfway through the second period.
Dale sub Tyler Smith set up a grandstand finale with a cool finish as a huge Whatmuff clearance broke to him off Dieseruvwe, who then popped up to head home Casey Pettit’s last-gasp cross to keep Dale’s dream alive.
Whatmuff was the hero in the shootout, blocking Callum Reynolds’ spot-kick and making a stunning one-handed save from Matt Rush before Cameron Coxe hit the underside of the bar with Wood’s fourth penalty to spark Dale celebrations.
More to follow.