Rochdale have secured promotion back to the EFL with a dramatic late fightback from 2-0 down to defeat Boreham Wood in a penalty shoot-out. The Wood looked set for glory in the National League playoff final at Wembley after striking in each half through Matt Rush and Abdul Abdulmalik.

What happened?

Rochdale pulled one back in the 78th minute through Tyler Smith and Mani Dieseruvwe's header made it 2-2 deep into stoppage time.

Neither side could find a winner in extra time but Rochdale prevailed 3-1 on penalties after goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff saved from Callum Reynolds and Rush.

Why it matters for Rochdale

This promotion comes after they were pipped to the league title by York on the final day in one of the most extraordinary league finishes in recent memory. Rochdale had amassed a whopping 106 points in the regular season, with a record of 33W-7D-6L from 46 games, and recent form of DWWDL.

What comes next?

Rochdale will now join York in the EFL next season, following their dramatic playoff final win on 2026-05-10, which saw them come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Boreham Wood. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 2nd in England National League, 106 pts | | Last result | Boreham Wood 2-2 Rochdale (2026-05-10) | And with this win, Rochdale have capped an incredible season, one that saw them push for the league title until the very end. But after a heartbreaking finish to the regular season, they have now achieved their goal of promotion to the EFL. So what's next for Rochdale? They will look to build on this momentum and make a strong start to life back in the EFL.