RECAP: Follow Rochdale AFC’s Wembley journey against Boreham Wood

Dale head to the national stadium today, Sunday 10 May, for a place in the English Football League as they face Boreham Wood.

Dale are making their third ever trip to the national stadium as they look to return to the Football League after three seasons away.

Rochdale reached the final after beating Scunthorpe United 2-1 in the semi final. Boreham Wood had to come through two play off matches, beating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 and Carlisle United 2-1.

Dale finished second in the National League on 106 points, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion after York City secured the title on the final day. Boreham Wood finished fourth with 90 points.

FULL TIME: Boreham Wood 2-2 Rochdale (AET) (1-4 pens)

Many thanks to everyone who's followed our coverage throughout today. Signing off the blog from the M40 heading back north. Don't worry I'm not driving. 

Reaction across our social media channels across tonight and tomorrow. 

Co-Chairman Cameron Ogden: 'This is your day.'

Cameron Ogden speaking exclusively to Roch Valley Radio said:

“It’s brilliant news for the club given where we were two years ago but also a great news story for the town.

We stated our aims at the beginning of our tenure that we aimed for promotion in three years and that has been achieved.  

Thank you to Jim the lads and all the staff at the football club, to the board, to the amazingly faithful fans and to the people of Rochdale, this is your day!”

ROCHDALE ARE PROMOTED!

Dale win 3-1 on penalties. 

Boreham Wood. Coxe. MISSES 

Perry for Dale. SCORES.

3-1 Dale after 3 pens each. 

Boreham Wood. Rush. SAVED BY WHATMUFF. 

Francis for Dale. SCORES

Dale lead 2-1 after 2 pens each. 

Boreham Wood. Sousa. Scores. 

Beckwith for Dale. SCORES. 

 Boreham Wood first. Reynolds. SAVED BY WHATMUFF!

Penalties will be taken in front of the Boreham Wood supporters. McNulty urging the Dale fans to support the side. 

FULL TIME: Boreham Wood 2-2 Rochdale. (AET) 

This game will be decided on penalties. 

Last chance for Dale, saved on the line.  

Pritchard yellow for a tactical foul. Boreham Wood free-kick, last real chance in extra-time.

 Boreham Wood fans jump into voice as they win a corner, as we enter two added minutes. 

Whatmuff does well to stop a Boreham Wood attack. Both sides looking like they are lacking energy. 

 Boreham Wood fans not happy as an attack is stopped, as the referee gives a Rochdale free-kick, for a foul on Ebanks-Landell.

Second half of extra time underway. If we are level after this, it will be a penalty shootout. 

Half-time of extra time. No change in the score. A steady 15 minutes of football.  

 Three added minutes at the end of the first period of extra time.

Dale fans in good voice. Boreham Wood pretty quiet compared to a short time ago.  

Extra time underway. Ed Francis replaces Harvey Gilmour. 

FULL TIME: Boreham Wood 2-2 Rochdale. 

We go to extra time. 

GOAL: DALE HAVE LEVELLED. SIMPLY SUBLIME SCENES. 

OH MY LORD🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

IT'S MORE LATE ROCHDALE DRAMA AS THEY EQUALISE IN THE LAST SECONDS ⏰ pic.twitter.com/3XB0y3gUrb

— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 10, 2026

Boreham Wood fans eager for this game to be over. Dale's chances in the final third just not falling right.

SIX ADDED MINUTES

Can Dale find an equaliser? 

Final Dale sub: Ryan East, replaced by Casey Pettit.  

Today's attendance at Wembley: 17,470

Boreham Wood's star man today, Abdulmalik has just been replaced through injury. 

GOAL ROCHDALE: IT'S NOT OVER YET!! SUB TYLER SMITH FALLS ON A LOOSE BALL AND TUCKS IT HOME. 

Triple sub for Rochdale. Henderson, Smith & Beckwith replace Hannant, Rodney & Adebayo-Rowling 

GOAL: Abdul Abdulmalik turns scorer for Boreham Wood's second. His low shot beats the Dale defence.

Boreham Wood fans confident of promotion. Dale with it all to-do. 

Boreham Wood very much pushing for a second goal. 

A few photos from pitchside... 

Pritchard goes close for Rochdale again, his effort rolling into the hands of Curd.  

Leon Ayinde goes so close for Boreham Wood, inches wide of the post. Dale need to think about the threat. 

Boreham Wood close to a second on two occasions in the last minutes. Whatmuff saving well at his feet to deny Rush and Ebanks-Landell making a good block to deny the second chance. 

Hannant with a good break for Dale down the left. He couldn't knock the ball onto anyone. The way of playing was the right idea though!

Back-to-back corners for Dale. Gordon appeals for a foul, referee not interested. Second corner cleared easily. 

Good early work from Pritchard. He moves well down the left, although his cross doesn't end up with anyone on it. 

Rochdale get us back underway. Joe Pritchard has replaced Aiden Barlow at half-time.

HALF TIME: Boreham Wood 1-0 Rochdale 

Dale are a goal behind as they go in at half-time. Jimmy McNulty will have an interesting next 15 minutes as his side look to respond.

 Boreham Wood chance. A glancing header from Tom White off a corner, goes inches over the bar. 

CHANCE! Rodney delivers a good ball. Dieseruvwe's bullet header fell wide. Best chance for a while for Dale. 

Referee got in the way of the play for a brief moment as Boreham Wood were attacking, so as you can imagine there fans away to my right weren't best pleased.

Boreham Wood causing some real trouble for Rochdale, with chances in successive minutes. Abdulmalik has been the main threat. 

Abdulmalik forces Dale's keeper Whatmuff into another good save, his strong shot from the edge of the box was tipped over.

GOAL: Boreham Wood lead. Abdulmalik's ball into the box falls to Rush, who gets it in with his chest.  

Rochdale will want to respond quickly. 

 Aiden Barlow goes for the spectacular - but he can't connect with the ball as he attempts an overhead kick. 

Boreham Wood counter a Rochdale free-kick. Abdulmalik looks to turn past the Dale defenders but Rush couldn't pick up his ball. 

Adebayo-Rowling delivers a great ball into the box, headed clear by O'Connell. Dieseruvwe was ready to get to the ball, shouldn't it have been cleared.

All action in the opening minutes. Whatmuff makes a great save to deny Ayinde. Dale came back on the break but Boreham Wood defended well. 

 Boreham Wood get us underway at Wembley. 

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