York created the majority of prime scoring opportunities throughout the match, and Rochdale’s goalkeeper, Oliver Whatmuff, was instrumental in keeping them in the game with several excellent saves.
Rochdale began strongly, believing they had scored in the eighth minute. Dan Moss connected with a right-wing cross, and the ball, along with York’s goalkeeper Harrison Male, ended up in the net. However, the referee, Will Finnie, disallowed the goal due to a foul.
The first shot on goal didn’t arrive until the 14th minute, when Rochdale’s Luke Hannant attempted a right-footed curl from the edge of the box, sending it significantly wide.
York was awarded a free-kick in the 37th minute after Whatmuff committed a handball outside his penalty area. Ben Brookes opted to shoot from a challenging angle, sending his ambitious strike wide, much to the amusement of the home supporters.
The game’s first genuine scoring opportunity emerged three minutes after the break, as Hiram Boateng put Josh Stones clean through, but Stones’ angled shot was hit directly at Whatmuff.
Immediately afterwards, Dale’s Moss fired a shot that narrowly missed the goal.
York increasingly threatened on the counter-attack, with Boateng once again playing Stones into a promising position, only for Stones to hit his effort directly at the goalkeeper yet again.
Rochdale earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area in the 72nd minute after Dieseruvwe was fouled. Substitute Aidan Barlow stepped up to take it but could only send his shot over the crossbar.
With the clock winding down, Ollie Pearce dispossessed Ethan-Ebanks-Landell and set up Stones, whose deflected shot was expertly tipped away by Whatmuff.
Dale had a slight opportunity when Dieseruvwe attempted to connect with a cross from the left flank, but the ball was just beyond the striker’s reach.
York could have sealed the win in the 90th minute, but Greg Olley’s close-range effort was parried away by Whatmuff.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Rochdale came agonisingly close to securing their much-needed goal when a left-wing corner led to York’s Callum Howe heading the ball against his own crossbar.
The match then culminated in astonishing stoppage-time drama.
York City, after a decade outside the Football League, which included five seasons in the National League North, has now achieved promotion and returned.
Rochdale will now need to regroup and prepare for another attempt in the playoffs. Dale is set to host a semi-final match at the Crown Oil Arena next Sunday, where they will face either Scunthorpe or Southend.