League One play-off final: Shrewsbury Town 1 Rotherham 2 AET - Report and pictures

Paul Hurst's men came up just short against Rotherham, who had skipper Richard Wood to thank for two goals, either side of Alex Rodman's equaliser.

Town fans are used to Wembley heartbreak but it gets no easier. This one, billed the biggest game in the club's history, was perhaps the toughest yet. Especially for Hurst, going up against a club he loves. Where he is a legend.

Shrewsbury, who fell just short in the automatic promotion hunt, lasted more than 100 minutes at Wembley but fell 17 minutes short of a penalty shootout. A return to the second tier for the first time in 29 years was not to be.

It had been quite the ride but this these blue and amber troops fell just short to Paul Warne's Millers.

Analysis

Hurst unsurprisingly opted to reward the 11 that performed so well over 180 minutes with a starting position in the final.

The highlight of Town's team news was a place for Junior Brown. The hugely popular left-back was the subject of the biggest roar of the day pre-match. His first involvement in any game since October's victory over Fleetwood. The full-back put knee surgery firmly behind him and was well ahead of his scheduled return.

The Shrewsbury end was a sea of glorious blue and amber to welcome the players as they warmed up - but the decibels cranked right up come 3pm as both sides were given an unbelievable welcome for their biggest game of the season.

A crowd of 26,218 may have been the lowest in this final's 31-year history, but those in attendance gave the roaring atmosphere everything they had.

For Shrewsbury's brave troops, who have defied everything this season, it was game number 62 this once-in-a-generation season.

Hurst must have felt strange. The first sighting of him was in a suit. On the stroke of kick-off he found time to quick-change into his preferred suit. Superstitious Hurst was willing to trust in every omen.

Barely a few feet from Hurst, to his right, was his former Millers team-mate Paul Warne. Behind that was No.2 Richie Barker and Mike Pollitt, more ex-United colleagues.

Rotherham legend or not, Hurst knew where his loyalties and allegiance lay for the next 90 minutes and beyond.

The national anthem was sung and it was time for talking to stop. Town needed a good start, a positive one similar to the chances they enjoyed last time out here against Lincoln, but the first 10 minutes almost passed them by and Hurst's men were almost made to pay.

Shrewsbury old boy Jon Taylor, so adored during his four years in Shropshire, was finding space on the Rotherham right and so to the lively Joe Newell on the left. The Millers' midfield had the upper hand and they were bypassing the blue and amber.

A couple of warning signs flashing in front of Town were not headed. And guilty pleas fell on deaf ears as Omar Beckles was judged to have hauled down Wood from a corner.

Up stepped Ball, but his poor penalty was not far enough away from Henderson and was a good height for the goalkeeper, who made a superb save. The first time a penalty in normal time has been saved in a League One play-off final.

Eruption in the Town end, but Hurst's men needed to find themselves.

Hurst's men showed flashes in their rare ventures forward but the wind was behind the Millers. Short corners left Town dumbfounded while Wood again got the better of Beckles to head wide.

It took until half hour for the Town fans to truly get excited for attacking reasons. Jon Nolan was busy on the ball and escaped down the left. His fine cross was flicked wide across the far post by former Miller Carlton Morris.

Moments later the red end of Wembley erupted. Town did not learn their lesson. as Newell swung in another corner. Wood won another header. This time Henderson could not save his team.

The experienced stopper had already scored one first half winner against Town this season.

Town were giving away set piece after set piece and not clearing them. Richie Towell's dipping volley on the stroke of half-time could have seen them further behind.

Hurst faced the team talk of his life against his former employers as Town's Wembley curse looked like continuing.

The Blue and Amber Army raised the volume levels for their side and Salop found their feet. Hurst waited barely nine minutes to send for Stefan Payne to replace Bryn Morris.

But the leveller came from another source. It was Rodman, who missed out on a start through injury last month, to profit from the silkiest of short free-kicks. Shaun Whalley passed it into skipper Mat Sadler in the box,

Sadler's deft pass was inch-perfect for Rodman who kept his composure to squeeze home. Town's first Wembley goal in more than 300 minutes since Stuart Drummond's 2007 header against Bristol Rovers.

Town fans celebrated it in style. It was worth the wait. But shortly after, while in the ascendancy, Town were dealt a blow as C Morris limped off injured. Shortly after James Bolton hobbled off. With Lenell John-Lewis and Joe Riley on, Hurst had used all his subs.

Real momentum was short-lived and the Millers got a second wind. Will Vaulks and sub Caolan Lavery - twice - tested Henderson.

The final 20 minutes were watched through Shrewsbury fingers. Nails no doubt totally chewed off. Somehow Lavery missed when through on Henderson, then frontman Michael Smith rounded the Town keeper and trod on the ball.

But the closest the relentless Millers came was in the fourth minute of five added on. Sub Ryan Williams sent a piledriver in from an angle and Henderson was the hero again with a staggering save.

Into an extra 30 minutes it went. Game number 62 of the season went on and on with Town players out on their feet.

The first half of extra time was almost a non-event. Players were down injured on a warm, sticky day. Town's legs had gone but they defended manfully until the 103rd minute.

It was another Newell delivery as John-Lewis was caught napping, leaving Wood all alone to guide home at the back post, leaving Henderson stationary.

Town tried to rally but the tank was empty. It was not their year. The final chapter in the fairytale was missing its blue and amber ending.

Key moments

08 Penalty to Rotherham! The Millers have been piling on the pressure and are awarded a spot-kick. Town defender Omar Beckles wrestled Richard Wood to the ground, having an arm around the skipper's head.

09 PENALTY SAVED! Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Dean Henderson gets across to his right to keep out David Ball's effort. A confident shot-stopper, he made that look very easy. A good height for him, but the Manchester United loanee deserves a lot of credit for reading what Ball was trying to do.

GOAL 32 Rotherham go ahead, and it's skipper Wood with the goal. Having scored against Town earlier in the season and won the penalty earlier on in this game, he proves a menace once again - escaping the attention of Beckles to head past a helpless Henderson, sending the Millers fans into delirium.

58 SHREWSBURY EQUALISE! A superb free-kick routine completely dumbfounds Rotherham's defence, allowing Alex Rodman to poke home. Shaun Whalley passed the ball to Mat Sadler, whose clever reverse pass freed Rodman. What a roar from the Town fans!

GOAL 103 The Millers regain the lead, Wood getting his second. Joe Newell's free-kick finds the centre-half at the back post and he cleverly guides the ball past Henderson, via the post.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton (Riley, 71), Nsiala, Sadler ©, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley, B Morris (Payne, 55), Nolan, Rodman; C Morris (John-Lewis, 67).

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Lowe, Brown, Jones.

Rotherham United (4-4-1-1):

Rodak; Emmanuel, Wood ©, Ajayi, Mattock; Taylor (Williams, 75), Vaulks, Towell, Newell (Forde, 110); Ball (Lavery 71), Smith

Subs not used: Price (gk), Palmer, Purrington, Cummings.

Referee: Rob Jones

Attendance: 26,218