Rochdale's 99th-minute winner against Braintree Town set up a final-day showdown with York City for the National League title and the automatic promotion spot. York City leads by two points, having won 17 of their past 20 games, though they lost twice on the road last month. Rochdale held top spot for much of the season before a late wobble. The match is sold out, and York City is showing it on big screens at their LNER Community Stadium. Rochdale captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell said: "Whoever put the fixtures out at the start of the year might be getting a little bonus for how it's ended. It's a massive game."
Morecambe has been relegated from the National League, ending their season at Forest Green Rovers. Forest Green, relegated alongside Morecambe in 2023, have secured a playoff spot for the second successive year. Jim Bentley will manage his final game for Morecambe before moving to an unspecified supporting role for an unidentified new coach. Morecambe's first season under Panjab Warriors ownership was marred by controversy after the head of communications and director of marketing had his financial assets frozen by the UK government in December over allegations of supporting a terrorist organisation in India. Bentley said: "I like to think I will play my part in taking it forward, getting a feelgood factor to help make Morecambe great again."
Whoever put the fixtures out at the start of the year might be getting a little bonus for how it’s ended. It’s a massive game, I don’t think there’s been anything like it in the history of football – not that I’m aware of anyway.
Bury FC are likely to win the Northern Premier League West if they avoid defeat at Atherton Collieries. Their only challenger is Avro, who face bottom-of-the-table Darlaston Town. Bury's average attendance of 3,698 is nearly five times that of next-best Clitheroe, and 7,000 saw them beat Witton Albion 4-1 in their last home game.