Rochdale's hopes of returning to the Football League looked to have disintegrated with seconds remaining for Boreham Wood to cling on for victory in this extraordinary National League playoff final. Then came Mani Dieseruvwe's 97th-minute equalizer to send the match into extra time that preceded penalties. Step up Oliver Whatmuff, an 18-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Manchester City, who began the weekend named in the National League team of the season and ended it as Rochdale's other hero, saving twice to secure a 3-1 shootout triumph after 120 minutes had left the teams deadlocked. Given what they had been through a fortnight earlier, it was almost too much for Rochdale fans to take. Dieseruvwe looked to have rendered this torturous playoff route irrelevant with a goal in the 95th minute against York that prompted a pitch invasion of pure exhilaration. Eight minutes later, York memorably hit back to clinch the National League title, inflicting sheer devastation on Rochdale. Many suggested the emotional toll of that last-ditch defeat would be too great to recover from. But, after it all, they are a Football League club again. And that is all that matters.