York City clinched promotion to League Two in one of the National League’s most sensational finishes. Needing only a point at Crown Oil Arena, they faced Rochdale, who required a win after a 99th‑minute winner had kept the title race alive. The match seemed settled when Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed in for Rochdale in stoppage time.

Rochdale surged ahead five minutes into added time, sparking a wave of jubilation among their supporters. Six minutes of extra time had been announced, but a lengthy pitch clearance extended the period. In the 13th minute of added time, York’s Josh Stones rose amid a scramble to equalise, sealing a 1‑1 draw and automatic promotion.

The title race had hinged on a combined 212 points between the two clubs, with York entering the match two points ahead. Their earlier head‑to‑head dominance—four‑1 at home and a 2‑1 FA Cup win—gave them a psychological edge, yet both sets of fans endured nail‑biting tension as the clock wound down in the final minutes.

York’s return ends a decade‑long exile from the Football League, while Rochdale must settle for the playoffs, facing either Scunthorpe United or Southend United at home on 3 May. The drama reignited calls for a second automatic promotion spot, a campaign that remains unresolved as clubs lobby the EFL for reform in the near future.