Rochdale will return to the Football League after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Boreham Wood. The National League playoff final saw Rochdale win 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The victory marks Rochdale’s return to the ranks of the country’s top 92 clubs.
Dieseruvwe’s Late Equaliser Sends Match to Penalties
Hopes of promotion appeared to fade as Boreham Wood led late in the game. However, Mani Dieseruvwe scored a 97th-minute equaliser to send the match into extra time. This set the stage for a penalty shootout.
Oliver Whatmuff, the 18-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Manchester City, emerged as a hero for Rochdale. He saved twice in the shootout to secure the win after 120 minutes of deadlocked play.
McNulty Hails Rochdale’s Resilience
Rochdale manager Jimmy McNulty praised his team’s resilience. “I feel like it was destined to end this way,” said McNulty. “The season itself has been incredible: the points tally, the performances, the guts, the character, the late goals. At 2-0 down, it’s tricky, but our belief was still there. It does feel like some sort of footballing justice was served today.”
Rochdale had previously faced disappointment when York hit back to clinch the National League title after Dieseruvwe’s goal in the 95th minute. Despite that, the club bounced back.
Boreham Wood’s Disappointment
Defeat was cruel for Boreham Wood, who had led 2-0 with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. Luke Garrard, a veteran of 140 appearances as a Boreham Wood player and more than 500 as manager, has now twice suffered defeat at this stage.
“Unfortunately, we had one foot in the EFL and it wasn’t to be,” said a tearful Garrard.
Having played in League One as recently as 2020-21, Rochdale endured financial problems and narrowly avoided liquidation. Now solvent again off the pitch, they find themselves back in League Two.