League One - Scunthorpe promoted at Wembley

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 08:37:00 2009

Scunthorpe sealed an immediate return to the Championship after beating Millwall 3-2 in a thrilling League One play-off final at Wembley.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 League One Play-Off final Scunthorpe players celebrate Martyn Woolford's late winner - 0

Martyn Woolford's winner with five minutes remaining secured the win for Nigel Adkins's side which books them a place back in the second tier at the first attempt following last season's relegation.

Braces from the Iron's Matthew Sparrow and Millwall's Gary Alexander had ensured a tense finish to a frenetic match in front of a crowd dominated by 45,000 Millwall fans.

Woolford - who was playing non-league football for York City last season - capped off an outstanding performance by scoring with a drilled low shot that Millwall goalkeeper David Forde let slip through his arms.

In spite of the occasion and the searing heat, both sides began the match at a high tempo that barely relented all the way through to the final whistle.

Scunthorpe took an early lead in the sixth minute when Woolford's shot was saved by Forde but ran loose for Sparrow to blast into the roof of the net.

Lambeth-born Alexander drew the Lions level in spectacular fashion on 37 minutes when he fired an unstoppable dipping volley on the turn from 35 yards out that flew into the top corner.

Just two minutes later Alexander doubled his and Millwall's tally when he got to a cross from David Martin and saw his downward header trickle over the line as Joe Murphy could not get a strong enough hand to it.

Sparrow secured a brace of his own when, with 20 minutes to go, Woolford burst into the area and cut a ball back that gave Sparrow time to take several touches before rifling in a close-range finish.

Alexander, having scored that exceptional strike in the first-half, then missed a gilt-edged chance to become only the second man to score a hat-trick in a play-off final. Substitute Chris Hackett dug out an inviting cross for the striker, but Alexander sent his free header wide from close range with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

That miss proved to be hugely costly as Woolford's winner - combined with an impressive late save by Murphy from Neil Harris - broke Millwall hearts.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 25 - 44 of 44

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  1. well well well both teams were great fantastic game­ better than that one tonight leeds mk dons millwall­ & scunthorpe were not good enough over the season­ fair play to leicester & peterbourgh. good luck­ scunthorpe mk dons & leeds next year
    millwall are­ the team next year

    From JOHN, on Thu 28 May 2:08AM
  2. millwall played a graet game and alexander now plays­ for us not your muggy leyton s,,,hole team, get a life­ you mug,,

    From millwall4life44, on Wed 27 May 6:51PM
  3. I am glad Scunny rather than scummy won promotion,­ especially as quite a few of your fans stayed behing­ and clapped us getting the league 1 trophy you are good­ sports and like us I hope you stay up next year

    From liam, on Tue 26 May 1:54PM
  4. Hey to all does Millwall thugs, cowards scum who­ attacked us 5 Millwall suporters after the game 2 put­ in hospital the rest with lumps and bumps i hope you­ are pleased with your cowardley attack on men in ther­ 50,s you dirty SCUM From a Millwall fan who as just­ quit supporting the CLUB.

    Good Luck Scunthorpe well­ done.

    From Thomas, on Mon 25 May 7:23PM
  5. Well done to the 'Iron's' for the quick­ return to the Championship!
    As a Leicester Fan they­ were on of the best opponent's that we played and­ had some good player;s within their side. Glad that you­ put the MFC to the wall! They didn't deserve to get­ promoted after their moronic fan's behaviour­ against Leed's in the semi's of the­ playoff's. There should be some interesting rivalry­ encountered with the two clubs from the north east who­ were relegated! Once again Congratulations!
    But watch­ out as the 'Foxes when hungry will run riot!'

    From Jethrotull, on Mon 25 May 10:01AM
  6. ha ha ha millwall well done had your chance to have­ blagging rights over the mighty whites and you blew it.­ You'll still be running on to the league one­ pitches flicking cigs at the opposing teams players­ next season you mugs. ha ha ha ha ha

    From lordspan, on Mon 25 May 1:48AM
  7. to smallcathy, about it all being in the name, eg­ sCUNThrope, well all i see is mILLwALL, and that sums­ up how the rest of the country feel

    From iain, on Sun 24 May 11:25PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    can someone explain why it is fair that a club which­ was placed 6th in the league after a full season ,11­ points off 3rd place, is promoted?

    From chrisboro, on Sun 24 May 10:27PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    sCUNThorpe!

    From Christopher, on Sun 24 May 10:24PM
  10. millwall is actually an area .part of the isle of dogs­ in east london not south,the football team do not­ actually play in millwall,so if your ever in london and­ want to know where millwall is its just below canary­ wharf opposite side of the river to greenwhich.which­ might answer why alot of islanders still support­ millwall when most poplar people support the mighty­ west ham

    From nigelkahn, on Sun 24 May 10:09PM
  11. smallcathy you are really showing yourself up stop­ being such a big mouth low life Millwall are going no­ where yet again isnt it ironic that their ground is­ right next to a wastr disposal site ha ha nobody likes­ you and guesss what WE DONT CARE EITHER a ha ha who are­ ya.Stupid mare.

    From PETER, on Sun 24 May 9:12PM
  12. what a shame leeds and millwall back at brunton park­ next season well be ready and waiting well done scunny

    From ANGELA, on Sun 24 May 8:59PM
  13. well done scunny,you deserved it , but why dontr you­ have any fans? the empty spaces were a discrase.c u­ soon in the championship,WHITE FOREVER.

    From TOMMY GUN 4U, on Sun 24 May 8:56PM
  14. It is slighty worriying that people dont know Millwall­­ is a town (Even Millwall fans) and that most seem to­­ think that Scunthorpe is in Yorkshire...
    If Millwall­­ isnt a Town and Is London then that means the same for­­ Woolwich (Arsenal) Tottenham, Charlton, Chelsea etc­ etc­ where would there name come from? If its all­ London­ then the teams would be London United, London­ City,­ London Wonderers etc
    And the fact that people­ think­ Scunthorpe is in Yorkshire (Including people up­ here) I­ mean come on people, Are we turning into a­ nation of­ idiots!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 8:49PM
  15. ricky answer 23 braindead @#$% how the @#$% can­­ millwall be a town in london london is the town you­­ complete and utter hillbilly inbred @#$%

    Ur right­ there m8 except that ur not lol :) London isn't­ the towm, Millwall is! London is the city ur dumb @#$%,­ and has lots of large towns within it Millwall being 1­ of those towns!

    From rollinkid21, on Sun 24 May 8:28PM
  16. Scunthorpe well done!!!! See you in the premier league.­ Hull supporter.

    From Tab N, on Sun 24 May 8:26PM
  17. ricky answer 23 braindead @#$% how the @#$% can­ millwall be a town in london london is the town you­ complete and utter hillbilly inbred @#$%

    From n3llyo, on Sun 24 May 8:09PM
  18. Ok fair play to Alexander 2day, he was arguably motm­ and his equaliser was a classic wembley goal, and it­ pains me to praise that fat @#$% cause his a traitor­ for leaving us to play for such scum as Millwall, and­ there's the clue to who I support. Yes Orient, see­ ya next season Millwall look 4ward to giving you a­ stuffing!

    I felt a little sorry for Alexander at the­ final whistle, but I hav no sympathy for Millwall. SGA­ was within a whisker of a hatrick, it was a case of the­ sublime to the ridiculous havin scored that wonder goal­ he really should hav put that header away at 2-2, but­ his not to blame for Millwall loosing their defending­ simply wasn't good enuf and I think over the 90­ mins Scunthorpe deserved thier win, they started­ brighter and Alexanders brace came slightly against the­ run of play. Millwall played wiv alot of passion but­ Scunny played wiv passion and heart but also more skill­ than Millwall, they are a better passing side if you­ ask me! WELL DONE SCUNNY, MILLWALL STAYING DOWN!!­ HEHEHE!

    From rollinkid21, on Sun 24 May 8:02PM
  19. Shows how famous Millwall really is doesnt it!

    From You Would, on Sun 24 May 7:31PM
  20. Millwall is not a town you thick @#$%. its in­ Bermondsey the OLD KENT ROAD which I know you have­ heard of. famous enough for you. Leeds what a laught.­ get a job. well done scunthorpe good win.

    From andy h, on Sun 24 May 7:25PM
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