How York broke Rochdale hearts in eight minutes of title-deciding chaos

There is a thin line in football between unbridled joy and utter devastation. Eight minutes of stoppage time encapsulated this perfectly, and painfully, in the climax of one of the greatest title finales in living memory . Trailing leaders York by two points as they entered the fifth of six added minutes, Rochdale thought they’d produced yet another late show when it mattered most.

They were still alive in this National League title race thanks to 90-plus-minute winners against Sutton United, Wealdstone and Braintree Town, and it seemed certain all that drama hadn’t gone in vain when Emmanuel Dieseruvwe headed home in the dying moments. Bedlam broke out at Spotland - fans were on the pitch, shirts were off and nabbed as a collectors item. This was a day for Dale’s history.

There was a lengthy delay as the officials, assisted by Rochdale manager Jim McNulty, tried to restore order to finish the game and confirm the club’s extraordinary return to the Football League after three seasons in the fifth tier. But that wasn’t to be. In the 103rd minute, the hosts were dealt a crushing taste of their own medicine.

York threw a Hail Mary towards the Rochdale box, their season depending on it. Pinball ensued, with desperate blue bodies doing everything they could to stop the ball from going over the line. But as Josh Stones fired it against substitute Tyler Smith, the linesman bravely raised his flag; he deemed it to have crossed the line.