Rochdale secured their return to the Football League with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Boreham Wood in the National League playoff final at Wembley. The match ended 2-2 after extra time, with Rochdale winning 3-1 on penalties thanks to two saves from 18-year-old goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff, on loan from Manchester City.
Boreham Wood dominated much of the game and led 2-0 with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. Abdul Abdulmalik set up the first goal for Matt Rush, then scored the second himself. However, Rochdale fought back with a goal from substitute Tyler Smith and a 97th-minute equaliser from Mani Dieseruvwe, whose header deflected off James Clarke and into the net.
Rochdale manager Jimmy McNulty praised his team's resilience, saying: 'I feel like it was destined to end this way. 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.'
For Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard, defeat was heartbreaking. 'Unfortunately, we had one foot in the EFL and it wasn't to be,' he said. 'I can't look my kids in the face because they will think daddy has failed.'
Rochdale's return to League Two comes after a turbulent period that saw them narrowly avoid liquidation. The club had been in the Football League for 102 years before relegation in 2022.
