Promotion pandemonium: Fifth-tier team goes up after premature pitch invasion
Rochdale supporters invade pitch in promotion celebration, but York City snatches EFL place back with last-second goal
They thought it was all over. It wasn't. Rochdale fans flooded onto the field at the Crown Oil Arena in the 95th minute, joining the celebrations after Emmanuel "Mani" Dieseruvwe headed in a floated ball that gave his team the 1-0 lead and put The Dale up in the English Football League again.
Except it didn't. ROCHDALE HAVE SURELY WON PROMOTION WITH ANOTHER INJURY TIME GOAL š¤Æ CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!? Watch LIVE NOW at https://t.
co/17IGNhwWu5 šŗ pic. twitter. com/TTVC4eCRi8 ā National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) April 25, 2026 Once the fans were cleared from the field and play resumed, York City found a 103rd-minute equalizer that puts The Minstermen in League Two, the fourth division of English soccer.
After a chaotic sequence in the box, Josh Stones put a shot over the line before Rochdale's goalkeeper tried to sweep it out. The referee awarded the goal, and York City was able to celebrate their promotion, with a draw good enough to finish on 108 points, two more than second-place Rochdale. "I thought we were done.