Rochdale fight back from two down to beat Boreham Wood on penalties and seal EFL return

Rochdale beat Boreham Wood 3-1 on penalties in the National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

They had to overcome a two-goal deficit to send the game to penalties.

Dale missed out on automatic qualification last month, after being held to a 1-1 draw by York City.

Boreham Wood started brightly and almost opened the scoring inside the first minute when Leon Ayinde ran in behind, but Oliver Whatmuff kept his effort out.

They broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with Matt Rush guiding Abdul Abdulmalik’s low cross into the net with an improvised finish.

Whatmuff made a good save, tipping Abdulmalik’s strike over.

Boreham Wood came close to scoring a second early on after the interval. Leon Ayinde sent a cross to the far post where Matt Rush was waiting, but Whatmuff thwarted him.

They went close again when Leon Ayinde nutmegged his marker, before drilling his strike narrowly wide.

Abdulmalik eventually doubled their lead in the 69th minute. He controlled a corner at the far post, cut onto his right foot and fired home.

Tyler Smith halved the deficit in the 78th minute, racing onto Whatmuff’s long ball to slot home.

Rochdale completed the comeback just before the end of stoppage time through Dieseruvwe’s header, sending the game into extra time.

There were no genuine attempts from either side during extra time, which dragged the game into a penalty shoot-out.

Whatmuff saved two penalties to send Jimmy McNulty’s side to League 2 for the first time in three years.