Inside England's most dramatic title race and last day promotion shootout

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When Rochdale host York City on Saturday, the National League title race will reach its finale - and the numbers show that it's been one of the most dramatic ever.

A 99th minute winner for Rochdale against Braintree last weekend ensured the title race in England's fifth-tier would go down to the final day with a head-to-head showdown for promotion and a place in League Two next season.

York were less than 60 seconds from winning the title after a 3-0 win against Yeovil, and were spotted watching the end of Rochdale's game in a huddle on the pitch. The Minstermen knew that if The Dale failed to beat Braintree, they would be crowned champions and return to the EFL for the first time in 10 years.

But Emmanuel Dieseruvwe popped up with his 25th league goal of the season deep into stoppage-time for Rochdale to seal a precious win and make the final game against York a winners-takes-all title showdown at the Crown Oil Arena.

And Dieseruvwe, 31, who is the division's third top scorer behind York's Ollie Pearce (34) and Boreham Woods' Matt Rush (26) has spoken ahead of the crunch title battle against York and is relishing the chance of gaining promotion back to the EFL.

Speaking to Mirror Football , Rochdale talisman Dieseruvwe said: "I'm really looking forward to it. Like you say, it's a huge game, a title decider and one that for myself, obviously for my family and all the boys, including the squad, we're really looking forward to it.

"There has been nothing but pure excitement. Off the back of the game on Saturday, winning it how we did, I think there's nothing but excitement going through the squad. The boys have come in and the mood's been amazing.

"It could have been a lot different, maybe 10 seconds beforehand. But yeah, the way the game finished and how we're feeling now is definitely one of pure excitement and positivity."

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Going into Saturday's title decider, York sit top and two points above second-place Rochdale. It means that a win or draw for the Minstermen will seal them the title and promotion, while The Dale have to win to leapfrog their opponents into first spot.

Although York are above Rochdale in the table, Dieseruvwe has admitted he and his team-mates are confident of winning the game and therefore the title.

"I think there's something special going on in this group and I think we're really, really confident," ex-Hartlepool and Halifax forward Dieseruvwe added.

"We're really confident going into this game. We're on our home pitch going into it, showing that we never give up. We've got character within the squad.

"We've got a manager that backs us to the hill and fans that have stuck with us all season. So, yeah, we're really confident going into the game."

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On what it would mean to win the title, he continued: "Yeah, it'd mean everything. The boys have had this aim all season. We've been sticking to our processes and sticking to our principles all year.

"And I think as a squad, we've really pushed each other on each week, each day in training, each game. So, to do it in front of our own fans would be incredible. So, yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to being able to do that."

In truth, both teams have enjoyed tremendous seasons. York have scored a staggering 113 goals, conceded just 40, won 33 from their 45 matches and picked up 107 points.

Rochdale, on the other hand, have scored fewer goals (87) but conceded the same (40) and won the same (33), though two more defeats for them ensures they have collected 105 points.

While neither York or Rochdale can break the record for the most points in a fifth-tier season, as that is held by Wrexham (111) three years ago, both have cemented their place in the top four alongside Notts County (107) for points collected in a single campaign.

As there is just one automatic promotion spot with the six teams from second to seventh entering the play-offs, it does feel a travesty that one of York or Rochdale could miss out on League Two football next season, given what they have both achieved.

"Obviously, there's that whole discussion about a three-up, three-down," Dieseruvwe admitted. "And for me, I don't really think too much about it because it is what it is.

"You know, it's only one team can go up and to go up automatically, you have to be top of the table. So, for us, we've just got one objective and that's to find ourselves there come the end of the game on Saturday."

Since 2003, two teams have gone up from the National League to League Two each season - the champions and the play-off winners.

However, in February 2025, the 72 teams in National League and its North and South feeder divisions, as part of the '3UP' campaign, called on EFL clubs to vote to increase that number so that three clubs would go up to League Two.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and 60 MPs supported the idea, while former Sky Sports presenter and Hartlepool honorary president Jeff Stelling joined the National League as an ambassador.

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Although the National League have pushed for change and even staged a round of matches where all games kicked off three minutes late to highlight their campaign, the EFL are yet to agree and it remains just two up, two down.

"Yeah, we know the rules and that's it," he said. "So, that's the only thing you can really focus on. Obviously, there's loads of opinions about it and things like that. But at the end of the day, we've got a job to do and that's to do what we can to achieve our goal."

By the time Rochdale and York emerge onto the pitch, the top of the National League will have changed hands 34 times throughout the season. Eight different clubs have led the division at one time or another.

And if Rochdale were to win on Saturday and get their noses in front one final time, it would match the only season in English football history to have seen a more exciting title race, when Doncaster Rovers won the Fourth Division in 1965/66. In that instance, the lead changed 35 times across the campaign.

While kick-off times weren't staggered for TV coverage as they have been this season, the lead changes in Doncaster's title-winning campaign in 1966 was based on a day-by-day basis rather than by the hour.

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Plenty will be intrigued about the prospect of a mouth-watering title run-in between Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League , but the fact is, it hasn't been as volatile as the one going on in the fifth tier.

Since Arsenal went top of the Premier League on December 27, the lead at the top of the National League has swapped hands 17 times. Although City have the advantage now following a 1-0 win against Burnley on Wednesday, it still hasn't changed anywhere near as much.

For Dieseruvwe, he has had a fine season regardless of whether Rochdale beat York and win the National League or not. Indeed, with 26 goals across all competitions, this is Dieseruvwe's most prolific campaign of his career.

"Yeah, it's been a great season," Dieseruvwe, who signed for Rochdale last summer from Hartlepool, said.

"Coming here in the summer, obviously having a really great chat with the gaffer. I knew what to expect, I knew what I was coming into and I knew that this was the place I needed to be to be able to show my full attributes and show what I'm capable of.

"Obviously, I've scored goals in the past with the likes of Hartlepool and Halifax in this league. But I think coming here was a real big step in my career and being able to play the brand of football that we do and enjoy playing with the players that I've been playing with.

"So, it's been an amazing season and obviously there's one huge game to go."