National League chaos as Rochdale denied automatic promotion on 106 points in stoppage-time mayhem

Apr 25, 2026 - 15:30

York City stole automatic promotion to League Two from Rochdale with an astonishing 103rd-minute equaliser on the final day of the season.

In a winner-takes-all clash at the Crown Oil Arena, Josh Stones grabbed the all-important goal in second-half stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw and clinch York the National League title, just minutes after Rochdale thought they had won promotion.

Josh Stones got the all-important goal as York City sealed promotion from the National League[/caption]

Stones was mobbed by fans in incredible scenes[/caption]

But it was Rochdale who first thought they had gone up[/caption]

Heading into the clash, York sat top of the table on a staggering 107 points, with Rochdale two points behind on 105.

With just one automatic promotion spot up for grabs, this meant the Minstermen required just a point to go up.

Meanwhile, the Dale needed a win to leapfrog the league leaders in order to clinch promotion back to the Football League.

As luck would have it, the fixture computer pitted the two sides against each other on the final day of the season.

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This set up a thrilling final showdown at Rochdale, but few could have expected how this would play out.

Stoppage-time drama

As the match looked to be headed towards a 0-0 draw that would seal York’s return to League Two, Rochdale struck in the 95th-minute.

Emmanuel Dieseruvwe put the Dale 1-0 up to fire them above York into top spot, and seemingly steal promotion and the league title.

Rochdale’s fans spilled onto the pitch in wild scenes, but there was a remarkable final twist in store when play finally got back underway.

With the match heading towards full-time, Josh Stones then squeezed the ball over the line in the 103rd-minute to score York’s all-important equaliser, and send them back into first place.

It sparked pure bedlam among the York fans, who staged a pitch invasion of their own, as they went back into first place on 108 points.

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Rochdale vs York scenes on final day — Rochdale fans were seen taunting the York players

The final whistle then blew minutes later, with York winning promotion back into the Football League after a ten-year absence following their relegation in 2015/26

As for Rochdale, the result meant heartbreak, as they failed to get over the line despite accruing a massive 106 points.

The non-league side could have more than one reason to feel a sense of injustice – as there are some suggestions York’s equaliser may not have crossed the line.

Rochdale will now enter the National League play-offs, as they look to clinch the second available promotion spot to League Two.

It is the second time in the space of a few years that two teams have picked up over 100 points in the National League.

On that occasion, it was Wrexham and Notts County, with the Welsh side going up automatically and County making it via the play-offs.

York’s players wheeled away in almost disbelief after Stones’ title-winning equaliser[/caption]

‘The maddest ever’

After his goal sealed York’s return to the Football League, Josh Stones struggled to sum up his emotions after the unbelievable chain of events.

He told DAZN: “The maddest ever. Crazy. I think when they scored, that’s what they’ve done all season.

“For the final game to have ended 0-0, it would have been a travesty for the league.

“I can’t put it into words. I’m so happy. We deserve it as a group, the staff, the fans. I love the club and that meant everything.

“I thought it was over but the boys never say never. If I’m really honest, I hope they [Rochdale] go on and win the play-offs, they’ve been unbelievable.

“I missed a chance at 0-0 and I thought if that was it and we lost 1-0, I wouldn’t sleep for days. Now I’m not going to sleep for days, in a good way.”