Big games call for big players – and Shrewsbury Town owe their precious place at Wembley to 6ft 4ins goalkeeper Luke Daniels.

The 21-year-old, on loan from West Brom, had the kind of day that usually only happens in a Roy of the Rovers comic as he inspired his adopted side to victory on penalties.

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He also saved one penalty in normal time, then followed up with a string of simply sensational saves to keep beleaguered Bury at bay.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Town, of course, needed to score to force extra-time – and they finally did that just two minutes from the end as Kevin McIntyre lashed in to thrill more than 2,000 Shrewsbury fans packed behind the goal.

Bubble burst

With the impetus behind them they entered the extra half-hour full of confidence but their bubble was burst within seconds as Steve Leslie was unfairly sent off for an alleged elbow on Stephen Dawson.

That signalled the start of 30 minutes of non-stop pressure that was finger-gnawing hell for all those of blue-and-amber persuasion.

One man kept his cool amidst the onslaught – Daniels proving an unbeatable barrier for the Shakers.

He saved three times from substitute Andy Bishop and made an even better stop to keep out an effort by Telford-based Elliott Bennett.

David Buchanan was also denied by the Baggies boy while, with pretty much the last kick of the game, Ben Futcher stabbed wide of an open goal.

Daniels’ heroics had taken the game the full distance and he added the coup de grâce by stopping two more spot-kicks in a penalty shoot-out, while all four Town takers finished with aplomb.

Bury were shell-shocked, especially given that the game had appeared within their grasp for most of the afternoon.

They looked on course to killing the contest when they won a penalty just after the half-hour.

The Shakers broke three-on-three and Andy Morrell was brought down as he attempted to turn Neil Ashton 12 yards out, referee Colin Webster having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Ashton – who had scored the own goal to leave his side trailing from the first leg – was mortified, but he was rescued by his goalkeeper.

Daniels dived to his right to keep out Phil Jevons’ strike then, for good measure, blocked Michael Jones’ follow-up with his legs before saving a third time from Dawson.

But for that almighty scare though, it was Shrewsbury who had always looked the most dangerous side in the first half.

The best chance came when Grant Holt released McIntyre with a cute backheel, but the midfielder pulled his shot wide.

Paul Murray unleashed a 35-yard thunderbolt that Bury keeper Wayne Brown did well to tip over the bar, and the No 1 bettered that to deny Ben Davies in injury-time.

Davies’ 20-yard free-kick was arrowed towards the top corner, but Brown produced a spectacular save to keep the scoresheet blank on the day.

Bury came into it more in the second half, and Daniels was at it again to keep out a rasping strike from former Wrexham striker Morrell.

Chances were few and far between at the other end, despite boss Paul Simpson introducing first Leslie then Moses Ashikodi off the bench.

Time looked to be ebbing away when McIntyre struck with just two minutes left on the clock, connecting with the sweetest of strikes from the edge of the box after some poor Bury defending.

That proved enough to force the extra half-hour, but Shrewsbury could not have started it in worse fashion, Leslie sent off just 17 seconds – though Town may appeal the decision, which looks harsh in the extreme when seen on television.

The youngster was clearly distressed and his predicament left his side in a hole as an already-shattered Town team faced another half-hour a man light.

Luckily, Daniels was having the sort of day when he could have made saves wearing a blindfold and his acrobatics ensured we went to penalties.

Ben Davies, Moses Ashikodi, Kevin McIntyre and David Worrall all delivered for Town.

Denied

Danny Racchi was denied by the Shrewsbury keeper to hand the visitors the initiative and it was all over when Bishop – who by now must have been sick of the sight of the young custodian – also missed from 12 yards.

So it’s Wembley for the third time in 13 years, and the second in three years for Shrewsbury.

After Auto Windscreens Trophy defeat to Rotherham in 1996 and play-off misery against Bristol Rovers in 2007, it’s time to make 2009 Town’s year.