Rochdale surrender a two-goal lead and missed the chance to go five points clear at the top of the National League on Wednesday night.
The league leaders went ahead on 30 minutes, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe sending the ball through to Luke Hannant, who provided a calm finish to make it 1-0.
Louis Jones then gifted Aidan Barlow a second for Dale on 51 minutes, then shortly after, a mistake in the visitors’ defence led to Callum Roberts getting one back for Scunthorpe.
The Iron then snatched a draw three minutes from the end thanks to Alfie Beestin.
Following the mistake action, it sees sees Rochdale 1st with 95 points from 40 games played, York are 2nd with 92 points from the same amount of games played, but lost 3-1 to Gateshead.
Carlisle, Boreham Wood, Scunthorpe, Forest Green and Southend sit in the playoff places.
Transcribed with the help of TurboScribe!
Rochdale boss Jim McNulty said: “I think overall, of course, there’s natural disappointment that we lost our lead, or gave up some points from a leading position.
“But I think if I’m assessing the game purely from a coach’s view and our performance, taking the scoreline aside, I’m happy with tonight. I really am.
“I just thought to the team, I thought our out-of-possession control of the game for so much of it, certainly until they scored their first goal, was really good in a difficult stadium.
“It’s been difficult to take points in on a playing surface that had a huge part in the game tonight and a huge part in moments for goals, certainly two of them.
“I thought the performance itself was something that was promising and I thought we were really unlucky not to win, if I’m being honest.
“But I know how games can go sometimes when goals bring stadiums to life. And I think the first goal for Scunthorpe done that, up until that point, I was really, really pleased with us.
“From that point, I’ve been out there and I know how it goes. I know how games become. And I actually thought the lads’ goal, second phase from a corner to a flush half-volley, like an arrow into the bottom corner, was, you know, as much as it hits me with disappointment, if I’m watching that as a neutral, I’d say, good goal, mate. It’s a good goal. It’s a good goal. And I think we are unlucky in that regard tonight.
“I’ve also seen the goal back that we scored, it gets given offside and it looks so tight. It looks so tight. At the point that Mani strikes that ball, it looks like Burger is in line.
“It looks like we’ve been suffered on the end of a decision tonight that looks to me like it should have went our way. I’d have to look at that more closely. The initial viewing of that scene looks like we won the game late with a goal that was unfortunately chalked off.
“But yes, genuinely, overall, I think it’s a tricky place to come. We take a point, we extend our lead by another point and yes, we move on to the next game.”
Interviewer: “I think I asked you a similar question after half-time, I thought you’d probably give me a similar answer, but what’s the feeling amongst the lads? Is it still one of positivity according to these final six games now?”
Jim: “It definitely is, yes, definitely. I think we felt different after Halifax because we didn’t enjoy how we played, despite the fact we found ourselves winning in the game. We were good with the ball that night, but we weren’t good without the ball. We weren’t happy with that.
“And all season long, we focused on performance and we let the outcomes take care of themselves. At Halifax, 50% of the way we play, which is without the ball, we weren’t pleased with. So, we’ve won games this year and not, and yet we’ve always resorted back to how do we perform?
“I think tonight, I just said to the team there, for me, despite Scunthorpe’s caused us some stress, like they do against every team, that’s a game that you win most times and in football, just sometimes you don’t.
“And tonight we didn’t. And, yes, we’ll reflect on it and prepare ourselves ready for the next one. Quick turnaround.”
Here’s how fans reacted after Rochdale surrender two-goal lead and miss chance to go five points clear at top of National League…
@LRbix: We gave you a chance to go 5 points clear and you messed that up
@RyanBro11591296: Do any of yous actually wanna win this bastard league
@dylan_rafc: Here come the York fans who seemed to be missing off the face of the earth about 40 mins ago:
@TS_Minstermen: YOU BUNCH OF BOTTLERS 😂😂😂👀👀👀
@mattbdale: Poor last 20 minutes but gained a point on York still think there will be more twists and turns #6togo #upthedale
@morganzwynne: League was won yesterday no?
@elliott_hardman: As a Scunthorpe fan, worst team we’ve played all season.
@duffieldnomad2: Best cancel that open top bus it ain’t over yet!!!#ycfc
@richard_b89: If someone could let Jim know that we’re absolutely shit when we put 11 men behind the ball to try and defend a lead, rather than keep playing our normal football, that would be appreciated. How many leads is that blown when we’ve tried to see a game out?
@rocknrollnobody: As a life long Scunthorpe fan, you lot are easily the worst team we’ve played this season. Possibly ever. When York came here they dominated and won a comfortable 3-0. Now that was a team of champions.
@ScunnyIan0: As much as i hate York (and the rest) they’re such a better team than yous
@itsjacksonn: Bryce is nowhere near good enough, be happy if I never see him in a Dale shirt again. Burger is not the kind of player you want to hold on in a tight, tense game. Shite subs, this is on Jim.
@JayHyde87: Rochdale have been class all season and its criminal one of us won’t go up. Hopefully we both do.
@FYPM1989: This is miles better than premier league football. Which way will it swing next? Really hope it goes to the last game. Great for the neutral who’s following just because I love football.
@sjburton1992: Honestly as a York fan it’s going to the wire. Both slipping up mid week and neither team can take our foot off the pedal. Heartbreak for whoever doesnt go up automatically and if anything it’s a further case for 3up 3down. May the best team win
@thatseriphosi: The amount of people (including Dale fans) saying this is a bottle job is crazy. On course for over 100 points, 30 points higher than our previous record total. We’d be clear champions any other season. Calling this anything like a bottle is wild #RAFC
@thecrescent78: Final thought for tonight. How good is this!? In a way I want it to go to the final day. Both teams sort of deserve that ending. The build-up, coverage and interest would be insane. And whatever happens, if both don’t go up, it’s a travesty
@LW_Minsterman: This #NationalLeague title race is one for the ages. If this were the Prem, Sky would be cumming in its pants on a weekly basis, holding it up as conclusive proof that it’s “the best league in the world”. But because this is the 5th tier, it’s going under the radar #ycfc #rafc
@MrFish1978: Rochdale. York. It should be good be fun, but. It’s not, is it? We will get well over 200 points and score over 200 goals combined. I hope it goes to the last day – its the right outcome. A proper cup final. And I genuinely hope the other goes up in the play offs #rafc #ycfc ✌️
I’m not sure me i’m not gonna lie, hard to see from this angle he must have literally been a nose hair offside.
Fine Margins 😵💫#RAFC pic.twitter.com/6oDEyxTGMn
— UBlockDale (@UBlockDale1907) March 26, 2026
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