Who will lift the National League title as York City and Rochdale near epic season finale?

For so long, it seemed that Rochdale would be lifting silverware, given they had a points advantage and games in hand, but it is York City who head into the final stages of the campaign in the driving seat.

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Late Luke Hannant strike keeps Rochdale in National League title race

Watch Rochdale vs. Wealdstone highlights

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Just two points separate the pair as we enter the penultimate weekend, and unbelievably, the top two will meet on the final day on April 21.

With only the title guaranteeing automatic promotion, DAZN News analyses one of the greatest title races in history.

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What is at stake for York City and Rochdale?

If this were a title race in the EFL, then both sides would already be promoted, but with only one automatic promotion spot available, the stakes could not be higher.

Last season, the Minstermen finished second in the National League table, only to miss out in the play-offs, with fifth-placed Oldham Athletic going up despite finishing 23 points behind them.

Indeed, Stuart Maynard's side could endure the same fate for a second successive season, but whichever team falls at the last, they must regroup fast and do it the hard way.

Just days ago, 3UP campaign ambassador Jeff Stelling again criticised the current format, saying, "Time and time again, sides go up from the National League and do brilliantly - a lot of them go straight through.

"But York get big crowds too, I mean a lot more than some of the sides in League Two and even in League One get.

"If they don't go up, then it will be a disaster as far as the football club is concerned."

It has been reported that whichever team achieves promotion would earn around £1million from prize money and the Premier League's trickle-down solidarity payments, while they would also benefit from increased television revenue in League Two.

The story of the National League title race so far

It was Rochdale who burst out of the blocks in August, earning 15 points from their first six games, and while York remained unbeaten, they were only able to notch one win.

However, it did not take long for the Minstermen to find their scoring feet, and emphatic wins have become a staple of their campaign, having now netted 110 times.

Despite their rampant form, the Dale held their nerve for so long and in February had a two-point lead with two games in hand, only for York's pressure to tell.

Later that month, Rochdale went viral for Emmanuel Dieseruvwe's bizarre penalty blunder against Scunthorpe United, which they drew, a prime example of the Greater Manchester club failing to take advantage of their games in hand.

If it were not for late goals, then Jimmy McNulty's men would have already surrendered the National League title by now, but crucially, they have scored injury-time goals in two of their last four to keep their dreams alive.

Why York are favourites for automatic promotion

Heading into the penultimate weekend, York are certainly the favourites, but it would be foolish to assume that the fifth-tier season will end in a calm and collected manner.

The Minstermen know that if they can better Rochdale's result, then they will be crowned champions, especially as their goal difference is far superior to their rivals.

Interestingly, if Maynard's side take two points from their remaining two games, then they will lift the title, but if they beat Yeovil Town and the Dale win their remaining two, then they will reign victorious.

Mind-boggling, right?

With both teams playing favourable opposition this weekend, it is expected that they will take three points apiece and set up the finale of all finales at an already sold-out Crown Oil Arena.

So will York fire their way to a much-craved title, or will Rochdale leave it late and complete the greatest end-of-season turnaround ever witnessed?

Strap yourselves in because it is about to get frantic.

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