It's advantage Quakers, thanks to Miller
Darlington 2 Rochdale 1
It had been a long time coming but finally Darlington had something to celebrate. The job may only be half done and the post-match celebrations premature, but Saturday was a day to treasure as at last Quakers succeeded when it mattered most.
They had never previously won on the big occasion at the Arena and held a similarly poor record in front of the television cameras.
Darlington had failed to win any of the previous nine fixtures when crowds of over 6,000 had attended their relatively new home and, similarly, they had won only once in five attempts in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Plus, after finishing the season in poor form while Rochdale, by contrast, were unbeaten in their last ten games, perhaps only the most optimistic were forecasting a home win.
So few could have forecast the most thrilling 90 minutes of Darlington's season would end with the most dramatic moment of the campaign, and perhaps of the last eight years.
Jason Kennedy had already put Quakers ahead with one of the best goals scored at the ground since it opened in 2003, but of more significance was a dramatic injury time header from Ian Miller that sparked wild celebrations never before seen at the Arena.
Correction: there's been plenty of wild celebrations at the Arena's most high profile games, but it's always been the visiting fans enjoying their day. Leeds earlier this season, Hartlepool last year, Carlisle the year before, plus many others.
But this time, at last, it was Darlington's day in the sun.
"It's not over, it's not done and dusted because I'm sure they'll fancy their chances at their place," said a typically cautious Penney.
"Rochdale are very capable of scoring goals so it's up to us to be tight and disciplined to grind out a result next weekend.
"I think we deserved to win because I thought we were the better side, especially in the first half when we could have had a couple more goals.
"I was delighted with the way we were playing. Scott Wiseman had a great chance after great run and then Micky Cummins had a chance to. Instead of placing his shot he should have just blasted it.
"And then Alan White had a good header too but it was a great goal by Jason. We had the momentum then and probably could have done with another one or two goals then.
"But this is a great result for us, it gives us something to build on so we can go away now and try and get another good result."
Until Miller's intervention a draw was more than likely, a result which, given that Quakers tend to play better on their travels, would have been satisfactory.
Although Darlington won 11 games at home and 11 away, League Two has this season seen more wins on the road than victories on home soil, and Penney had discovered a similar statistic from last season's play-offs.
He added: "If you look at the stats from last year, of the 12 teams that played at home there were only three home wins so a draw would not have been too bad, we would still have been in the tie."
Although only holding a slender lead, Penney's side are now favourites to reach Wembley on May 26 for what would be a third time.
They may have lost both previous play-off finals at the national stadium, in 1996 and 2000, but Quakers won all their semi-finals ties in those years.
Miller's goal ensured that record stayed intact, although for a long time it appeared the day was going to belong to Kennedy after his memorable strike on 29 minutes.
Following Ben Parker's ball up the left, the on loan midfielder was facing away from goal but in one delicate touch he turned inside a defender and curled the ball from 18 yards beyond goalkeeper Tommy Lee into the far side of the net.
It was of the sort of strike that Pawel Abbott has specialised in between his spells on the sidelines.
Kennedy's reaction was captured on the Arena's big screen, he looked almost embarrassed by the goal's quality.
He's certainly rarely shown that kind of ability in any of his previous 13 games on loan from Middlesbrough, the club where his contract expires this summer.
"It was a fantastic goal," said Penney. "He fetched it back inside which opened the whole of the goal up for him and bent it into the top corner. A great finish. He's got that kind of quality in his locker.
"I'm not sure what Middlesbrough's plans for him are but he's been great for us.
"We'll find out what level we're playing at next season and make a decision on the players we'd like to bring in."
By the time Kennedy scored both teams had already gone close in an up tempo start, perhaps aided by the pitch being watered just prior to kick-off.
Right back Scott Wiseman, keeping his place as Ryan Valentine is still not fit, marauded up field as the Dale defence invitingly opened up for him but after breaking into the penalty area his shot was too close to Lee.
Two minutes later Alan White dwelled in possession which allowed in Chris Dagnall, but his curling shot thwacked off Darlington's crossbar and then Micky Cummins placed a shot straight at Lee after Rob Purdie's ball from the byline.
The number of chances petered out until Kennedy broke the deadlock, and four minutes later White was unfortunate to see a header flash narrowly wide while Tommy Wright did the same just after the break.
Darlington had been on top in the first half but the first sign things were about to go Rochdale's way came when Wright hobbled off with a knee injury as Quakers' injury jinx struck again.
That was on 64 minutes and five minutes later Dale equalised. What made it so frustrating for Darlington was that they did so with a goal as fortunate as Kennedy's was classy.
From a similar area as the opener, Dagnall's off-target shot took a deflection off the inside of Steve Foster's leg, wrong-footed Stockdale and trickled into the net.
Thereafter Darlington were under pressure though Stockdale was rarely tested.
Then came injury number two, Parker pulling up with a hamstring strain, before White had to go off with a dead leg.
Battered and bruised, Darlington limped towards the finishing line however, a free-kick on the left, taken by substitute Neil Wainwright, offered a late, late chance of glory.
Into the Dale penalty area went most of the Darlington side and among them Miller, on for White, who took advantage of Lee needlessly racing off his line. The defender firmly planted home his header. Cue pandemonium.
A fine Stockdale save from Rene Howe even deeper into stoppage time protected the lead and ensured Quakers took a step towards Wembley.
Not since beating Hartlepool in the 2000 play-offs has a game been so important and so celebrated.
For Darlington fans it was moment they have been waiting for.
2:03am Monday 12th May 2008
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