Moors marched to the final of the FA Trophy for the first time in Club history after a breathtaking victory over National League outfit Rochdale.
Dale opened the scoring just after half time as Devante Rodney found the net, before Moors equalised just two minutes later through loanee Fin Shrimpton.
The hosts converted a penalty on the 54th minute to put themselves back in front, only for Aidan Rutledge to equalise in the most dramatic fashion in the dying moments.
Emergency loan goalkeeper Rohan Luthra then made himself the hero in the shootout, saving Tarryn Allarakhia’s spot kick to send Moors to Wembley.
Rochdale opened the afternoon with a half chance in the third minute as Rodney got into a decent position to the left of the post, his effort however, was expertly blocked by Ben Beals.
Rob Ramshaw tried his luck at the other end just two minutes later, flicking a header on goal from a Reece Staunton cross into the area but Killian Barrett was on hand to claim.
Dale pushed forward for a good portion of the opening 20 minutes as they saw chance after chance go begging. First of which being an inviting ball in from Sam Beckwith missing everyone in the area.
Soon after, Aidan Barlow’s effort was charged down by Ben Beals in the area, who did excellently to get across to divert the strike away.
Beals was yet again called into action as he shielded a smart ball in behind out for a corner despite heavy pressure from multiple Dale men.
Moors almost took the lead on the 39th minute thanks to what would’ve been a miraculous effort from Corey McKeown. The winger got onto a loose header from a Rochdale man, before lofting it over the head of Barrett. The ball looked destined for the net – but somehow stayed out after hitting the inside of the upright.
With the game level at the break, and Moors having the best chance of the game so far, Graeme Lee will have been pleased with his side’s first half performance as they looked to go into the second half with momentum.
It was the hosts who got off to the better start however, as ex Hartlepool United man, Devante Rodney, put them in front three minutes into the second half. A smart corner routine saw the ball end up at Rodney’s feet in the area, where he slotted home past Luthra into the bottom left-hand corner.
The lead didn’t last long for the Dale, as Moors found their leveller two minutes later. Some good play around the 18-yard box ended up with Ramshaw, who delivered a great ball through traffic to Fin Shrimpton. The loanee took a touch, before slotting home low into the back of the net.
Moors’ delight was short lived though, as Graeme Lee’s men conceded a penalty on the 54th minute, which was converted by Aidan Barlow as he sent Luthra the wrong way.
Luthra had to be alert on the 68th minute as he brilliantly denied Barlow a second. The Derby loanee put his reaction time on display as he palmed the effort over the bar.
Harvey Gilmour struck a powerful effort on goal four minutes later, which Luthra again brilliantly saved, diving low across to his left to divert the effort wide of the post.
Barlow, who’d been heavily involved in the afternoon’s antics, went close again as his effort rattled off the crossbar.
Moors dug deep to deny the hosts of a third and keep their Wembley dream from crashing to the ground, with Graeme lee’s men put their bodies on the line to deny multiple shots on goal in rapid fashion.
With time ticking away and the Rochdale supporters more than ready to storm the field, Moors pulled themselves back from the brink to take the tie to penalties.
A looping ball into the area from Matty Dolan found the head of substitute Aidan Rutledge, who guided it low into the back of the net, causing nothing but sheer delirium in the away end for the 1000+ travelling Moors fans.
That goal was enough to send the semi-final to penalties, which had seemed impossible just moments ago.
After four perfect penalties from both sides, Reece Staunton stepped up to fire Moors’ final spot kick past Barrett and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Rochdale needed to score to keep their Wembley dream, which had looked secured just 10 minutes prior, as Allarakhia stepped up to try and level for the fifth time of the shootout.
Luthra stood calm and brilliantly stopped the penalty with his outstretched right arm, sending the Moors faithful into pandemonium on the other side of the pitch.
Sheer elation for Moors, as fans, directors, players and staff now had their visit to Wembley confirmed.
Moors will meet Aldershot Town in the Final next month as they look to replicate their FA Vase victory 12 years on.
Full Time: Rochdale 2 Moors 2 (4-5 on pens)
Rochdale: Bassett, Allarakhia, Gordon, Hogan, Beckwith, Buyabu, Gilmour, Weston, Barlow, Rodney (Ayinde 90), Henderson (Mitchell 79).
Subs not used: Kelly, Armstrong, Ebanks-Landell, Edwards, Kingdon.
Moors: Luthra, Dyson, Ledger, Beals, Staunton, Dolan, Shrimpton (Ross 75), Mondal (Rutledge 75), Ramshaw, McKeown (Harris 75), Taylor
Subs not used: Johnson, Luck, Myers
Booked: Rutledge (78)
Referee: Declan Bourne
Attendance: 5,527
