Football, bloody hell. We may never see the likes of it again after York City struck an equaliser in the 102nd minute to secure a dramatic return to the Football League at Rochdale’s expense.

The hosts thought they had done it when Mani Dieseruvwe headed a 95th minute goal that would have sent Dale into League Two. A pitch invasion ensued and, after a lengthy delay, play restarted. But there was still enough time for Josh Stones to bundle the ball over the line to secure the point York needed for glory.

The Ministermen are back in the Football League after a decade away but it all came down to injury time after 46 games and 4140 minutes of football. It was utter chaos as the dramatic final fixture saw more pitch invasions than goals.

Everyone was hoping for a climax in this final-day shootout but no one could have anticipated this, especially after a match of little to no incident. Callum Howe’s header onto his own bar in the 92nd minute was the first sign of what was to come, with Rochdale failing to threaten the York goal prior to this final throes.

When the fans emptied to celebrate Dieseruvwe’s header from an Ian Henderson cross in the dying embers of six original added minutes, the overwhelming joy resonated around Spotland. Everyone able to jump the hoardings did so, even one fan in a protective boot, but ecstasy was replaced with agony.

It took more than five minutes to clear the playing surface. Once they did, everyone in red lined up for the restart. York pushed forward and the battling of Rochdale was not enough. Cue the signal for wild celebrations from the 1500 away fans, who replicated the Rochdale excitement and no one could blame them.

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