Rochdale sealed their place in the League Two play-off final at Wembley with a penalty shootout win over Darlington at Spotland after having won 2-1 in normal time to pull level at 3-3 on aggregate.

Goalkeeper Tommy Lee was the Dale hero as he saved Jason Kennedy's penalty to allow Ben Muirhead to step up and seal a 5-4 shootout victory.

In normal time, Clark Keltie had put Darlington ahead just before the half hour only for a Ricky Ravenhill own-goal and a strike from David Perkins, who was later sent off, to give Rochdale victory on the day and send the game into extra-time.

Rochdale, who have not been promoted for 39 years and have spent 34 years at this level, will now play either Stockport or Wycombe at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday.

The hosts enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges of the match and should have taken the lead soon after kick-off, but Chris Dagnall's close range header flew inches over the bar.

The lively striker was gifted another chance to draw the hosts level on aggregate on 25 minutes, but again he was off target after Darlington keeper David Stockdale had made a hash of a clearance.

Stockdale, who received pain-killing injections on an ankle injury before kick-off, looked ill at ease during the first half and it was another of his mistakes that allowed Rochdale to get back into the game after having fallen one down.

The Fulham-bound keeper spilled a free-kick into a crowded danger area just before half-time and with Dagnall and Simon Ramsden lurking with intent, Ricky Ravenhill had no choice but to slide in, unluckily diverting the ball into his own net.

Earlier, Darlington had put themselves firmly in the driving seat, albeit against the run of play, when Keltie opened the scoring on the day with 28 minutes on the clock. The midfielder fired a beautifully taken spot kick past Tommy Lee after Rene Howe was adjudged to have pulled back Jason Kennedy in the box.

Keltie was again in the thick of the action soon after the restart, rattling the bar following super approach play in the 47th minute before firing narrowly over on 69 minutes.

Darlington were left to rue those near misses as Perkins fired Rochdale ahead on the day and level on aggregate with just 12 minutes of normal time remaining. Stockdale could not be faulted this time as Perkins's shot from outside the penalty area took a slight deflection on its way into the top left hand corner, leaving the keeper absolutely no chance.

Locked at 3-3, half an hour of extra time ensued during which Rochdale were reduced to 10 men with 11 minutes remaining after Perkins was dismissed following an ugly confrontation with Steve Foster.

Darlington failed to capitalise on their man advantage - indeed it was Rochdale who came closest to settling the tie in open play, substitute Adam Le Fondre cushioning a volley on to the top of the cross bar in the second period of extra time - leaving the game to ultimately be decided by the lottery that is a penalty shootout.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport