Going into the last game of the season away at Rochdale, the National League title and a guaranteed place in the English Football League was York’s to lose. And, they very nearly did.
After being the better team for most of the 90 minutes, despite only needing a draw, the away side clearly set their stall out from the start.
There were plenty of opportunities throughout the first half in front of a capacity crowd at the Crown Oil Arena under the unseasonably hot sun.
A Footballing Afternoon Like No Other
It was perhaps a slightly nervy start for the away side, with their hosts appearing to be on top, while premature cheers from the home support after York goalkeeper Harrison Male was bundled over his own line after an illegal challenge, yielded nothing, the Minstermen started to turn the screw.
A couple of breakaways and a smattering of chances led to momentum that essentially led to Rochdale being pinned in their own half and while York had plenty of creative spark, they time and again proved wasteful in front of goal.
Despite the away side not needing three points, they were certainly going full throttle and for large parts of the first half were on top, with both Ollie Bankes and Ollie Pearce going close.
York will have felt frustrated to go in at half time all square after having the best chances. The second half started with the home side clearly spurred on by their team talk, though York soon began, once again to take control.
As Rochdale added more urgency to their game, harrying York’s rearguard, spaces opened up in midfield as the away side worked the ball excellently forward, beating the high press and springing traps for the counter-attack.
On two occasions, Josh Stones was put through on goal, though squandered chances under pressure, the first from a tighter angle, while a Rochdale free-kick courtesy of Aidan Barlow, just fizzed dangerously over the bar.
Another chances from Stones, following a breakaway saw his effort deflect and almost catch Rochdale goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff off-guard mid-dive, who did superbly to get a glove to it.
The introduction of Joe Grey with just over 20 minutes to go added plenty of energetic spark and after a flurry of half chances for the visitors, it was he who should have put the game to bed with the last kick of normal time after a superb volleyed cut-back from Stones presented him with only the goalkeeper to beat and a huge target to aim at.
A rushed toe poke resulted in an easy save from Whatmuff, with home fans more than likely thinking that was it. After six minutes of injury time was added on, we witnessed arguably the most dramatic finale to a game of football there likely has ever been.
Unprecedented Drama At The Close
After being on the back foot for so long and with the clock running down, a delicious delivery to the far post from Rochdale’s Ian Henderson saw Emmanuel Dieseruvwe leap the highest to loop a header into the far corner, sparking scenes of derision around the stadium, resulting in chaos as home fans rush the pitch.
With barely seconds remaining, after five minutes of celebrations and Rochdale seemingly having pulled off a shock, there was still time for another twist. With the referee adding more time on, it was the impetus the away side needed.
A goal mouth scramble saw Stones volley it goal bound from close range and wheel away with his arms aloft, sparking arguably the biggest last gasp upset ever to happen in the game as York pulled off what would have appeared to be the seemingly impossible, just a couple of minutes earlier.
Not even the most astute scriptwriters would have predicted this; Rochdale fans all likely making celebration arrangements were swiftly halted in devastating fashion as York once again waited right to the death to do what they have become masters at over the last few games and take their rightful place in the English Football League.