Shrewsbury Town: Luke Daniels, Darren Moss, Neil Ashton, Kelvin Langmead, Graham Coughlan (c), Chris Humphrey (Ashikodi, 90), Ben Davies, Paul Murray (Worrall, 74), Kevin McIntyre, Grant Holt, Nick Chadwick (Riza, 79)
Subs: Glynn Garner, David Worrall, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Moses Ashikodi, Omer Riza

Gillingham: Simon Royce, Barry Fuller (c), John Nutter, Stuart Lewis, Simon King, Garry Richards, Simeon Jackson, Josh Wright, Dennis Oli, Curtis Weston, Andy Barcham
Subs: Mark Bentley, Adam Miller, Alan Julian, Mark McCammon, Albert Jarrett

Goal: Jackson 90

Referee: Mr. C. Oliver (Northumberland)
Assistants: Mr. K. Lawson & Mr. P. Thompson
Fourth Official: Mr. A. Taylor

Attendance: 53,706

Martin Wild reports from Wembley Stadium

Paul Simpson goes with a recognisable 4-4-2 line-up for this, the most dramatic of finales to a football season. Only 90 minutes - notwithstanding the need for extra-time and penalties - stands between one of these sides, and potential trips to the likes of Elland Road, The Valley and St. Mary's next season.

As you might expect, the much vaunted Wembley surface was in pristine condition, and once the team had emerged from their now familiar huddle, it was time for battle to commence.

Town were first to show and a cushioned header from Grant Holt almost made its way through for Ben Davies, but Gills skipper Barry Fuller came across to cover in the nick of time.

There were loud claims from the 20,000 Shrews fans for a penalty when Fuller and Davies contested another Holt flick-on, but the Wembley press box monitors immediately showed that the referee's decision to award a goal kick was the correct one.

Much has been made in the national media this week, of that 7-0 win for Town over today's opponents back in September. That will count for nothing today of course, but it's worth noting that without Holt's last minute leveller at the Priestfield Stadium in March, the team wouldn't have made it to this stunning arena, for the most thrilling of climaxes.

The temperature in London this morning was hovering around the 22 degrees mark, but thankfully it was a lot cooler for the match with the bright early morning sunshine having been replaced by slightly more overcast conditions.

Dennis Oli showed good pace down the left to get past Neil Ashton and a good degree of skill to give Curtis Weston a crossing opportunity, but the midfielder's centre was easily dealt with by Luke Daniels.

With twenty minutes played there was little to separate the sides, and it was every inch your typical cagey opening with neither side prepared to take any unnecessary risks.

Gillingham were seeing plenty of the ball though, but Josh Wright got it all wrong when he blasted wildly over from just outside the box.

Shrewsbury were beginning to ride their luck a little and when Darren Moss conceded a corner, Daniels made a superb reactionary save to keep out full-back John Nutter's powerful effort.

When Town did get hold of the ball, they weren't able to keep it for long enough before it was handed back to their opponents. The players took advantage of a head knock to Nick Chadwick, by taking on board some fluids on an energy-sapping surface. The replays showed that Fuller had used an elbow to gain leverage for his leap to clear the ball, and it certainly looked no less a challenge than the one which ruled Steve Leslie out of this final, after he received a red card and a three game suspension for his indiscretion at Gigg Lane. From the resultant free-kick Davies had Simon Royce scampering across his line, but the ball drifted a yard or two wide of the right hand post.

Oli was making it a tough afternoon for Ashton, and Graham Coughlan had to come across to bail out his fellow defender, when the burly striker once again left the likeable Scouser in his wake.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Daniels was again the hero when he flung himself to his right to keep out Wright's angled shot. It was headed for the bottom corner of the net and was a brilliant save by a man bang in form. Crucially, it enabled his side to leave the field with the scoreline still goalless.

Half-Time: Gillingham 0 Shrewsbury Town 0

Gillingham got the second half under way and were attacking the East end of the stadium, where the bulk of their supporters were gathered.

Daniels was soon in action again. Andy Barcham worked an opening and the big goalkeeper threw up a strong arm to turn the ball behind at his near post.

Town had appeared to struggle throughout in dealing with the variety in Gill's set-pieces. Given that they were conceding a few too many free-kicks, this was bound to be a cause for concern to Paul Simpson and his coaching staff.

Shrews were desperate for a spell with the ball. The statistics were bound to show the Kent club were having way more possession than their Shropshire counterparts.

Weston and Coughlan both received a yellow card apiece for a bit of handbags, after Weston appeared reluctant to give Paul Murray the ball back when Shrews won a free-kick.

Then came Town's best moment of the game by far. Chris Humphrey finally got a penetrating ball in and Davies met it on the full. Royce was well positioned otherwise Salop would have held an unlikely lead. It brought the Town fans out of their seats and for the first time in a long time, they loudly cheered for their side.

Murray and Holt were soon attracting the attentions of referee Clive Oliver and they found their way into the official's notebook for successive fouls.

Davies and Humphrey swapped flanks as Shrewsbury attempted something different, and with an hour now played, Town were gently edging their way back into it.

The attendance was announced as 53,706 - the second highest for a League Two play-off final, with the Bristol Rovers v. Shrewsbury final two years ago still holding the record.

McIntyre had a good chance when Kelvin Langmead headed a free-kick back across goal, but the midfielder was wayward with his close range header and Gillingham breathed a huge sigh of relief.

It was tortuous watching the game with so much riding on it. Although a hugely pressurised situation, Town's last five games had all required a positive outcome, so they had at least had some preparation on that score.

Davies linked up superbly with Moss which for a brief moment looked to have opened the door for the former skipper, but Weston showed great awareness to step in and give away the corner as the Town man looked set to pull the trigger.

Murray was withdrawn with sixteen minutes remaining and David Worrall - who is renowned for his tireless energies - ends his season on the world's biggest stage, having started it in West Brom's reserves!

There was more activity down on Town's bench and Omer Riza was soon to take the place of Chadwick, who had had little change out of a miserly Gillingham back-line.

Could we be heading for another dramatic twist, with extra-time now only a nail-biting ten minutes away? We were almost into next-goal-wins territory.

Gills sprang on a rare second-half counter and as Barcham turned the ball inside, Town were grateful that Coughlan hadn't cut his toe nails last night, when he got the slightest purchase on the ball to deny the lurking Simeon Jackson a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Riza was making a nuisance of himself, and now Town were carrying a potent threat up top with Humphrey also coming into the game a bit more.

Then right on full-time came a gut wrenching end to a 49 game campaign. Wright's corner fell kindly for Jackson and his header eluded Ashton on the goal line to squeeze in at the post.

Coughlan towered high at the back post but couldn't keep his header down as Salop committed everyone to attack. But it was to no avail and the day that promised so much ended in heartache.

The cruellest of cruel ends then for Simmo's men, who had fallen right at the last fence. But they can be justifiably proud of their efforts and can come back stronger for the experience.

Gillingham made it the swiftest of returns to League One after last season's relegation, so congratulations are due to them, but this was a horrible, horrible way to miss out on promotion. Football is not a funny old game after all.

Full-Time: Gillingham 1 Shrewsbury Town 0