York City secure dramatic promotion with stoppage-time equaliser against Rochdale

If ever a match was destined to be decided by almost incomprehensible drama in stoppage time, it was this one. The National League title fight has been all about theatre and late goals from both Rochdale and York City. Two teams who refused to lie down. Two teams showing a never-say-die attitude in their desperation to secure promotion back to the Football League. And so, of course, it was settled in the same way. Not once, but twice. Rochdale had needed a 99th-minute Emmanuel Dieseruvwe goal at Braintree last week to even take the title race to the final day. And when he headed home against York five minutes into added time, the race looked to be won. Home fans flooded the pitch, running around in utter jubilation. This was their day. Until it wasn't. Six minutes had been added on initially, but the game was delayed for some time while the pitch was cleared. And, incredibly, the race was not over. York threw men forward and Josh Stones, who had missed a glut of chances, slammed the ball home in a goalmouth scramble to snatch a 1-1 draw - and promotion - in the 13th minute of added time. Once again, the pitch was flooded. But this time the fans wore red. Rochdale's players sank to the floor. Their race was run. You could feel the tension in the air before kick-off. Not aggression, but apprehension about what what was to come. A season of hard work coming down to this. The two teams had amassed a staggering 212 points between them - and their meeting on the final day had long looked like a title decider. York went into the game with a two-point cushion. They could afford to draw. Rochdale had to win. It was the perfect day for it. Sun shining, fans making their way to the Crown Oil Arena with their blue and red shirts proudly on display. Dale supporters had been filing into the Ratcliffe - the club's pub, attached to the ground - since the doors opened at 10am. "I'm terrified," said Elliott Mathieson, searching through his phone to find the tickets he'd booked for his group of friends. "I think we're gonna lose. The nerves are so bad I've tried to put it out my mind, because if I think it about too much, I wouldn't be able to sleep or eat. Promotion would be massive... monumental." York had won the previous two meetings between the sides - 4-1 in the league on their own ground, and 2-1 here in the FA Cup. But their supporters did not feel confident either. "I've been to some big games, but nothing has ever felt like this before," said Graham Fair. "It feels so important because if we lose, I don't think we'd do it in the play-offs because of the pressure and the disappointment." The play-offs were on everyone's mind. The National League suffers from an archaic quirk within the upper echelons of the football pyramid, with only its champions going straight up. The runners-up go into the play-offs, and in the 23 seasons since they were introduced, the team finishing second have only been promoted six times. Clubs are calling for a second automatic place as part of a 3UP campaign. It was discussed at the English Football League AGM last month but with no vote following, the status quo remains next season. On Friday, Rochdale and York set aside their rivalry to issue joint statements saying that, whoever finished top, they would continue the fight. As kick-off approached, the atmosphere was electric. Chances were at a premium in the first half. At the break, the Rochdale fans queueing for pies and drinks seemed hopeful, but knew their players were not creating enough. York were on top in the second half and Oliver Whatmough - the Manchester City goalkeeper who has spent the season on loan at Rochdale - kept his side in it. The home fans were quiet. The York supporters were still singing, their drummer still drumming. They were in the box seat, Rochdale needed a goal. Then the board went up showing six minutes of added time. One last chance. The home fans found a second wind. York's Callum Howe headed against his own crossbar and it felt like something was coming. That something was Dieseruvwe, who rose at the back post at the Pearl Street End to head home. The Crown Oil Arena erupted. Hundreds of fans flooded on to the pitch in ecstasy, zigzagging around, arms aloft. People in the stands were hugging and screaming into each other's faces. Eventually, after several minutes, the pitch was cleared for the game to resume. York threw just about everyone into attack. A cavalry charge with seconds left. And there - in the right place at the right time - was Stones. Tyler Smith made a despairing dive to try to block his shot but the assistant referee raised his flag immediately to signal the goal. Bedlam. Rochdale complained the ball had not crossed the line, but the decision was made. "York are going up, ole, ole," sang the away supporters as their players danced in front of them. The Minstermen have been out of the Football League for 10 years, and even spent five years in National League North. Now they are back in League Two. For Rochdale, the play-offs await - starting with a home semi-final against Scunthorpe or Southend on 3 May. They may well have lost the title race in the most dramatic fashion, but as one fan said as he left the stand: "The season's not over."