Heartbroken Shrewsbury Town fans spoke of their anguish after the team conceded a goal in the 90th minute at Wembley to shatter any hopes of promotion.

The cruel end to Saturday’s Coca-Cola League Two Play-Off Final came as a sucker punch to more than 20,000 Salopians who had made the trip down to London.

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Fans making their way out of the stadium continued to sing Shrewsbury songs and said they were still proud of the team’s achievements despite the fact they will not be hosting fixtures against the likes of Leeds United and Southampton next season.

Many supporters also suffered further misery after being told by friends watching on TV that Simeon Jackson’s late header which won the match for Gillingham, resulted from a corner which should not have been given in the first place.

Mark Wynn, 35, and his friend Steve Dudson, 41, both of High Ercall, near Telford, said they had been left devastated by the way Town had lost.

“I am absolutely gutted and there’s not a lot I can say,” said Mark.

“It’s the second time I’ve been to Wembley and again we are the losing team. We thought we had a good chance and we thought we were going into extra-time and penalties.”

Steve added: “I was gutted, absolutely gutted. In the first half we weren’t there and didn’t turn up but in the second half we were better.

“To have a goal scored against you in the 90th minute in a game of such importance, the chances are you are not going to come back.

Proud

“I really did think they were going to turn the screw on Gillingham and I thought it was looking good up until that point.”

Pete Vernon, 46, of Wem, said: “At the end of the day it’s not been a good season considering the way we started it. I’m still very proud of them and I just hope we don’t lose our best players.”

A number of supporters speaking after the defeat said they were extremely worried about whether the club would be able to keep hold of the likes of top goalscorer Grant Holt and midfielder Ben Davies next season.

David Rogers, 35, from Sundorne, Shrewsbury, who attended the match with his children Zoe, 18, and Luke, 16, said: “Gillingham had the first half and we were definitely the better team in the second half.

“I think if you are a proper fan at this moment in time you are absolutely gutted but if you are a day tripper you will just be getting on the train feeling like you have had a nice day out.”

Devastating

Friends Matt Cooke, of Shawbury; Scott Chapman, of Belle Vue, Shrewsbury and Glenn Hughes, of Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, all 20, said the loss had been hard to take.

Glenn said: “To hold out to 90 minutes and to lose it like that is just devastating.”

Devastated

Matt added: “If we had scored in the 90th minute we would be delighted but it’s a horrible way to lose a game. I think we were second best today though.”

Former BBC Radio Shropshire broadcaster and avid Shrewsbury Town fan Lawrie Bloomfield said he was devastated but felt the right team had won.

He said: “The corner was taken with seconds to go but overall if I were a Gillingham fan and it had gone to extra-time and then lost on penalties I might have been a bit gutted because I think the right team won.”

James Brooks, 38, of Harlescott, Shrewsbury, who attended the match with his son Billy, 11, and friend Shaun Reade, 42, and his daughter Zoe, 13, of Heath Farm, Shrewsbury, said he wished the team had won promotion automatically.

He said: “I am devastated, the first half we didn’t play. It’s a long journey back but we shouldn’t be in this position and shouldn’t have gone through the play-offs.

“But I think next year we will go up and I think Gillingham will go down, I’m actually going to put £20 on it.”

Kate Powis, 28, who had travelled all the way from New Zealand to watch the match, said she had still enjoyed the day.

She said: “It’s the first time I have been to Wembley and I have been to one Shrewsbury match before at the Prostar.

“I have never seen anything like this before – it was amazing. Sure, there was disappointment but I think the crowd makes the game more than the game makes the game.

“It was still enjoyable and I would still come again definitely. It’s good to see the fans support the team even when they get defeated.”

Curse

Phil Treverton from Church Stretton, said at the final whistle: “I’m feeling sick. I’ve supported Shrewsbury for 20 odd years.”

Neil Underhill, 28, from London said: “To lose is one thing, but to lose like this in the last minute after coming so close to promotion right up to the end of the season is hard to take.

“But a match at Wembley for a club like us is always a fantastic day out.”

Others spoke of the curse of Wembley after Town’s defeat became their third defeat on the hallowed turf.

Kieron Seaborne, 25, from Ludlow, said: “I’m really gutted because I really thought we were going to do it this time. And their goal came so late in the game it was cruel.”

Dan Hern, 28, from Ludlow, said: “The result’s just leaving me feeling quite low after we played so well in the second half.”

Stephen Liversage, of Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, said: “I’m unhappy about the result but we were much better in the second half so it was still worth the trip.”

By Russell Roberts and Tom Johannsen