Anthony Pilkington was the happiest man art Wembley after Jim Gannon recalled him to the starting line-up in place of the unlucky Leon McSweeney who dropped down to the bench.

Dominic Blizzard, unfortunately, failed a late fitness test on his injured calf and didn't make the squad.

Matty McNeil, meanwhile, was the surprise inclusion on the bench after recovering from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since November.

County are now soaring into League One after their thrilling victory at Wembley.

Striker supreme Liam Dickinson scored what turned out to be the winner during a nail-biting second half.

A sea of County fans, scarves, flags and hats greeted the players as they warmed up half-an-hour before kick-off, and by 3pm the atmosphere was spine-tingling - simply amazing!

There was still a haze hovering above the pitch from the fireworks and flames as the game got under way, and in the opening 10 minutes it appeared that both sides were content to get a feel for one another in the greasy conditions.

The first chance didn't come until the 18th minute. Liam Dickinson wriggled past Rory McArdle, but his shot was deflected before being comfortably beaten away by Tommy Lee.

Dickinson then found himself a yard a space, but shot low and wide from just outside the Dale box.

County were to fall behind on 23 minutes though. Chris Dagnall's shot was deflected inches wide for a corner off the lunging Jim McNulty, and from the subsequent kick from Kallum Higginbotham, McArdle powered home a header past Logan at the near post.

County had been on top, but they now needed to bounce back. And that they almost did on 29 minutes when Anthony Pilkington's curling free-kick missed the far post by the narrowest of margins.

County did get their goal on 33 minutes. A short corner routine saw Tommy Rowe cross from the right, McNulty dived in, but it was Dale's Nathan Stanton who looked to have got the final glancing touch as the ball fizzed past Lee.

The County faithful now sent the atmosphere into overdrive, but the two teams remained locked at 1-1 at the interval

Both teams were now kicking towards their own supporters, and that clearly gave County a lift as they quickly went into the lead.

After just three minutes Michael Rose crossed from the left and there was Pilkington, who stooped to head the ball high into the Rochdale net off the underside of the crossbar.

'The scarf my father wore' now rang out loud and true at Wembley, and County were looking confident.

Dale skipper Gary Jones went close with a low drive, then the Hatters faithful were screaming for a spot-kick after Stanton appeared to bundle Pilkington over as he raced towards goal.

Pilkington went on a mazy run before McArdle blocked his shot, then League One was all but wrapped up on 67 minutes.

Pilkington superbly stretched to cross in from the right this time, and that man Dickinson simply smashed in a cracker of a shot low past Lee at the near post.

County fans were ecstatic - what a finish!

Rose curled a free-kick just wide and Rowe blasted into the side-netting, but the game was then back at 3-2 with 13 minutes to go.

County sub Leon McSweeney failed to get distance on a clearing header, and Adam Rundle smashed home a volley from just inside the Hatters' box.

A tense finish was now guaranteed before McSweeney's shot forced Lee into a diving save, while McNulty also went close as his far-post header hit the side-netting.

County held on to their lead though, and Jim Gannon's boys are GOING UP!