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.
