Soccer
WATCH: Boreham Wood vs. Rochdale play-off final highlights as Jimmy McNulty's side promoted to Football League on penalties
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You just knew it would end this way, didn't you? In classic Rochdale fashion, Jimmy McNulty's side delivered late, late drama to take the National League play-off final to penalties, where they clinched promotion to the Football League.
It was Boreham Wood who raced out of the blocks the quickest, with Matt Rush netting after 22 minutes before Abdul Abdulmalik doubled the Wood's lead in the 69th before it all got rather nervy.
When substitute Tyler Smith pulled one back with 12 minutes remaining, there was a sense of inevitability that Dale would find another just as they so often have at the end of the season.
And of course, it was their late goal specialist Emmanuel Dieseruvwe who found a stoppage-time equaliser in the 97th minute to take the game to extra time.
As is often the case in the final 30, neither side really went for it, both aware that any mistake could lose the game, meaning the contest went to the lottery of a penalty shootout.
While Luke Garrard's side had the advantage of taking first, they were unable to convert, with Dale goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff saving twice from Callum Reynolds and Rush before Cameron Coxe hit the underside of the bar.
That all means that Rochdale, who only missed out on automatic promotion by two points on the final day, are promoted to League Two, while Boreham Wood's wait for EFL football goes on.
Relive the National League play-off final drama as Rochdale clinch promotion on penalties
Watch Boreham Wood vs. Rochdale highlights
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