Rochdale score 99th minute winner to stop York from winning promotion and take it to final day

Yet more astonishing scenes as Rochdale score 99th minute winner to stop York from winning promotion and take it to the final day.

After Braintree had equalised on 91 minutes, which looked as though York were about to win the title, Rochdale then scored in the final seconds to take the race for the National League title down to the final day.

It means that York City lead by two points going into the last match of the season as the two sides meet next Saturday.

1) York City – 1072) Rochdale – 105

York are ahead courtesy of Ollie Pearce🎯

As it stands, they will be crowned champions today🏆 pic.twitter.com/PEaXsSnJI3

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 18, 2026

A cultured finish from Josh Stones to double York’s lead🤌🏼 pic.twitter.com/9V7lxaNNJ8

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 18, 2026

–

Rochdale are ahead in Braintree🔥 pic.twitter.com/z2UTQCTg4g

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 18, 2026

OH MY WORD🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

Absolutely WILD scenes as Rochdale score a 99th minute winner to keep THAT final day game alive‼️🤩 pic.twitter.com/wZeW8i3Eu9

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 18, 2026

Rochdale concede in injury time🤯

Unless they score in the next few minutes, York will be crowned champions👀 pic.twitter.com/qnbZGTVna2

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 18, 2026

90+9′ THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME! 🤯

A long ball forward is flicked o into the path of Mani, who keeps his composure to find the back of the net! 🙌#braintree 1-2 #rafc https://t.co/Hns1IrKqVA

— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) April 18, 2026

UNBELIEVABLE 🤯#rafc pic.twitter.com/nzBid2AktN

— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) April 18, 2026

DID THAT JUST HAPPEN 😍#rafc pic.twitter.com/r4nR8ITxBO

— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) April 18, 2026

Full Time.

Another three points, and we go down to the final day!#YCFC 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/RWuDjiAavK

— York City FC (@YorkCityFC) April 18, 2026

Here’s the social media reaction after Rochdale score a 99th minute winner to stop York from winning promotion and take it to the final day…

@lennonkian_: I don’t know how they do it but it’s every single week York or Rochdale get a last minute winner. Crazy title race 🤣

@Paulscaife7: That might be worst defending I’ve ever seen!!

@gmapleth: Great scenes, but why have Braintree given up trying to defend

@CaseyAdamsLOFC: There’s not a chance all these 90+ winners are coincidence. It would ruin the viewing figures for the last game of the season if they hadn’t scored 🤣🤣

@ScottRafferty02: Title race for the ages this mind, swear one of the two have scored 90+ goals every game forever😂

@11_boucher: York fans thought they had their hands on the trophy 🤣 i hope you guys fucking beat them last game of the season!!! Fuck them Yorkshire pudding tossers 🙊

@theunstable1: Two best teams in tbe league by a mile. Deserves to go to the last game. All the best from a carlisle fan 👏👏

@TheStig1997825: If this was york you’d call it play until we score 🤷‍♂️ dont need 3 more minutes for a goal but you have to hope it comes down to the final day I suppose! See you there 👍

@Jack642784: Fair fucking play!! What a game to watch for the neutral next week now, don’t mind who goes up as yourselves and York are both traditional football league clubs who deserve to get back there.

@Sandylaner77: Well that’s it then, we’ve done just enough to get to a title decider, pressure off now. Let’s see how good York really are next week UTD

@tommyf1996: I could cry. Feel deflated. It was always going to go to the final day. It’s been written in the stars for months. The week long wait is going to be torture #ycfc #rafc

@lotslottie16: Burst into tears thinking we were home and dry and Rochdale bag a winner. It’s going to the final day and I don’t know if I can cope with the stress 😭🥺 #ycfc

@rhysclough: Genuinely, worst of luck York. If you’re 1-0 by half time I’ll be on my way home. What a fantastic, unbelievable and excruciating end to a season, probably of all time. We both deserve it and it’s unfair how we’re fighting for it. Worst of luck. #rafc #ycfc

@DanTakesOnFooty: WOWWWWWW!!! Last kick from @ManiD10. Job done for Rochdale in the end! Wasn’t pretty but got the three points which is all that matters right now. It’s going to the final day ladies and gentlemen. Get the popcorn in! 🍿 #RAFC #NationalLeague

@PabloTheMackem: How is it right that two teams in National League have 107 and 105 points and only 1 goes up? Its ridiculous and something @EFL and @NL_Enterprise need to sort out as its clearly not a good option. #ycfc #rafc

@ycfc_george: Overall Thoughts Pt47: Gutted. But it’s still in our hands and I have full confidence that we can go to Rochdale and do what we need to do! WE ARE YORK #YCFC 🔴🔵

@Dec76: This season has been fucking mental. We haven’t been great for a while now but keep finding a way. To the final game it goes. Up The injury time winning Dale #RAFC

@ollie_long93: That game next week .. is going to be something else.. winner takes the prize. 45 games and it’s still not decided. This is why two up automatically from the conference should be a thing. Insane

@78ajs: Ohhhhh man, it was so close! 😁 fans great. York brilliant today with Banks (MOTM) Hunt & Boateng running the show. Non of us expected Braintree to trouble Rochdale so nothing has changed, all down to next Saturday just like we thought it would be. C’mon York! 👊🏻 #ycfc 🔴🔵

@sam_elsegood: For about 4 minutes, we dreamed, but 90 minutes earlier we expected Braintree to lose. Cruel that we had our hopes up for a few very long minutes. At least we get to lift the trophy in front of them. #ycfc