Playoff final: Millwall 2 Scunthorpe 3

In baking temperatures, both sides served up a game worthy of a playoff final, but ultimately one side would have to face heartbreak. And it was the Lions that saw the prize of promotion drift away in the last throes of an end-to-end encounter.

Just a year ago, Kenny Jackett's side required a 3-0 win against Carlisle to make sure they would not be plummeting through the trap door to League Two. On Sunday, they were knocking on the door of the Championship, with 44,159 fans roaring behind them.

Despite the heartbreak, Millwall's manager was keen to progress further in 2009/10 to secure a return to English football's second tier.

He said: "We have to make sure we use this strong emotion to come back strongly next year.

"If you're real winners you pick yourself up and you go again.

"We've got to use that emotion which is extreme disappointment to make us stronger, better, fitter, and hungrier for next year to be successful."

The battling win over Leeds United in the semi-final had given Millwall fans high hopes of success, but the team were picking themselves up off the turf as early as six minutes.

Gary Hooper's great backheel was met by Woolford, who hit a low shot that dribbled to the right off keeper David Forde's arm. Matt Sparrow advanced past the chasing pack and buried the opener from short range.

Scunthorpe were playing neat football, but Millwall battled for every ball, and David Martin's shot was twisted onto the post by Sam Togwell on 31 minutes.

Suddenly, Millwall turned the game on its head. Gary Alexander controlled Zak Whitbread's header with his back to goal, and turned to smash a highlight-reel effort into the net from around 30 yards.

He wasn't done yet, either. Two minutes later, he met Martin's cross with a header that eased its way over the line through the hands of Joe Murphy.

Half-time ticked past, as did most of the second half. Many began to believe that Millwall could inflict a second Wembley defeat on Scunthorpe this season.

But there was to be no repeat of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy loss to Luton. On 70 minutes, Woolford touched the ball into the middle to provide Sparrow with the chance to equalise from six yards out.

Millwall had their "What If?" moment soon afterwards, when Alexander found himself with a free header six yards out. The chance for a hat-trick and Wembley glory loomed, but he missed the target.

Instead, it was Woolford who was to be the hero, smashing the ball under Forde with a low shot.