Rochdale’s triumph in the National League Promotion Final at Wembley Stadium, and hence winning promotion back into the English Football League, was the finale of an incredible, record-breaking, season.
Dale missed out on winning the league title and automatic promotion in a dramatic last game of the league season against York City at the Crown Oil Arena - York City scoring in the last minute to gain the point needed to win the title and promotion.
Dale therefore went into the play-offs and Scunthorpe beating Southend in an eliminater meant Dale played Scunthorpe in the semi-final. Dale won that game 2-1, and Boreham Wood beat Carlisle by the same score in the other semi-final, to set up Dale versus Boreham Wood in the final.
Boreham Wood scored the only goal of the first half before doubling their lead midway through the second half.
Two down, Dale had a mountain to climb but, with the same indomitable grit and determination the team had shown all season, climb that mountain they did.
Tyler Smith coming on as a substitute pulled a goal back before Dale top scorer Mani Dieseruvwe scored a late, late equaliser to take the game into extra time.
Neither team could find a goal in extra time and so to the drama of penalties, and 18-year-old Dale goalkeeper Ollie Whatmuff played a starring role.
Whatmuff superbly saved Boreham Wood’s first and third penalties to put Dalein a commanding position as Sam Beckwith, Ed Francis and Callum Perry all scored for Dale.
Boreham Wood’s Cameron Coxe needed to score to keep Boreham Wood in the shoot out but he hit the bar, and the Dale players and supporters went wild - Dale had won promotion back to the EFL after three years in the National League.
