Aidan Barlow gave Dale a half-time lead, but Braintree Town netted in the first minute of added time to almost consign Jimmy McNulty’s men to the playoffs.
However, Dale didn’t give up, and with the final kick of the game in 99th minute, Dieseruvwe collected a ball into the area and finished into the far corner.
Jimmy McNulty made two changes to the starting eleven from last week, with Devante Rodney and Luke Hannant coming in. Joe Pritchard returned from injury to take a place on the substitute’s bench.
Dale almost had the lead inside the opening six minutes, but Hannant saw his poked effort cleared off the line after bundling his way past a few defenders on the edge of the area.
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling was proving to be a threat down the right, seeing a left-foot shot held by Caleb Ansen, as well as cutting a low ball back towards Devante Rodney, who couldn’t make the required contact to turn goalwards.
The hosts, despite their relegation already confirmed, were also proving a threat. Goran Babic fired over, and Lewis Walker had a shot well blocked, whilst Chay Coooper saw a shot deflected inches wide and also dragged another effort off target.
Less than ten minutes before the break, Dale opened the scoring. A ball forward was contested by Dieseruvwe and a defender, before falling for Barlow in a central position. He took a touch before shooting early and finding the bottom corner.
Further chances came before half-time, with Rodney setting up Dieservuwe and Kyron Gordon, who both forced Ansen into strong saves to keep the lead at one.
After the break, Dieseruvwe headed Hannant’s deep cross wide of the post, before the striker flicked a header into the path of Barlow, whose dipping shot was well held by Ansen.
Barlow had another chance midway through the second period when he latched on to Callum Perry’s ball forward, but sent a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper.
Oliver Whatmuff was tested on a couple of occasions by Walker, whilst Elliott Thorpe and James Clarridge hit shots off target.
However, the goalkeeper was beaten just ten seconds into seven added minutes at the end of the game, when John Akinde flicked home a cross from close range.
It looked as though Dale were consigned to the playoffs, until a magical moment at the end, when Dieseruvwe finished with the final kick of the game to send the league season down to the final game.
Braintree Town XI | Ansen, Francis-Clarke, Vennings, Battrum, Walker ©, Cooper (74’ Hadi), Babic (74’ Akinde), Dibley-Dias (75’ Okunowo), Drake (63’ Kamara), Clarridge (84’ Omrore), Thorpe.
Unused subs | Smith.
Scorers | 90+1’ Akinde.
Dale XI | Whatmuff, K Gordon, East (66’ Francis), Ebanks-Landell ©, Gilmour, Dieseruvwe, Rodney (80′ Henderson), Hannant (66’ Moss), Adebayo-Rowling (90+4′ JK. Gordon), Barlow (80′ Pritchard), Perry.
Unused subs | Pettit, Smith.
Scorers | 36’ Barlow, 90+9’ Dieseruvwe.
Attendance | 1,309 (679 away).
