York City will play EFL football for the first time in 10 years after Josh Stones’ 102nd-minute goal earned the visitors the draw they required to pip hosts Rochdale to automatic promotion in an extraordinary final-day National League title decider against a crackling atmosphere at the Crown Oil Arena.
Starting two points below York on 105 points, Rochdale thought they had sealed automatic promotion through Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s 26th goal of the season in the 95th minute.
OH MY WORD 🤯🤯🤯🤯
YORK HAVE EQUALISED IN THE 102ND MINUTE TO WIN PROMOTION 😱
Watch LIVE NOW at https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5 📺 pic.twitter.com/GSexKSCwht
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 25, 2026
York – who finished second on 96 points last season before missing out in the play-offs – looked set for another extended campaign until Stones, who had shot straight at 18-year-old goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff earlier in the second half, changed their destiny and denied Rochdale top spot at the last.
National League top scorer Ollie Pearce could not add to his 34 goals for York this season as the meeting between the two best defences in the division ended with delirium for the Minsterman and a place in League two in 2025/26 for Stuart Maynard’s indomitable promotion winners.
More to follow
COME ON BOYS… ADDED TIME TO GO
0-0 | #YCFC 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/wgBIOZHTwK
— York City FC (@YorkCityFC) April 25, 2026
Table of Contents
Rochdale team vs York City
Rochdale made one change from their 2-1 win at Braintree Town a week earlier, when their winner arrived in the 99th minute through Dieseruvwe.
Dan Moss came in for midfielder Aidan Barlow, who put them in front for the first time at Braintree.
Rochdale starting XI: Oliver Whatmuff, Kyron Gordon, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Callum Perry, Harvey Gilmour, Devante Rodney, Ryan East, Luke Hannant, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, Daniel Moss
Rochdale substitutes: Casey Pettit, Joe Pritchard, Aidan Barlow, Archie Baptiste, Ed Francis, Tyler Smith, Ian Henderson
York City team vs Rochdale
York were unchanged from their 3-0 win at home to Yeovil Town the previous Saturday.
York City starting XI: Harrison Male, Jeff King, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Zak Johnson, Mark Kitching, Alex Hunt, Hiram Boateng, Ben Brookes, Ollie Banks, Ollie Pearce, Josh Stones
York substitutes: Ryan Fallowfield, Callum Howe, Joe Grey, Daniel Batty, Greg Olley, Alex Newby, George Sykes-Kenworthy
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