Classic Robins: Grimsby Town 0 Cheltenham Town 1

GRIMBSY TOWN 0 CHELTENHAM TOWN 1

Coca-Cola League Two play-off final, May 28, 2006.

STEVE Guinan was the hero as Cheltenham Town rounded off a memorable season in the best possible style at the Millennium Stadium.

In what could have been his last match for the club, out of contract striker Guinan struck after 63 minutes to sink Grimsby and earn Cheltenham promotion back into Coca-Cola League One.

Grant McCann saw his second half penalty saved by Grimsby's Steve Mildenhall, but it was irrelevant.

Cheltenham's second play-off triumph sent them into dreamland and back up to the third tier of English football after a three-year absence.

The largest crowd ever to witness a Robins match gathered in Cardiff's impressive arena for what was the last play-off final to be held in the Welsh capital.

Robins boss John Ward handed a surprise recall to Steven Gillespie, who replaced leading scorer Kayode Odejayi and partnered Guinan in attack.

A fired up Cheltenham took the initiative from kick-off and both Gillespie and Guinan missed opportunities early on.

Gillespie, who was on the bench for both legs of the semi-final victory over Wycombe, raced onto a through ball from McCann and nudged himself goalside of Rob Jones after eight minutes.

Faced with Mildenhall, Gillespie's second touch was heavy and allowed Mildenhall to spread himself and deflect the ball for a corner.

Nerves appeared to be getting the better of Grimsby and three minutes later Guinan was gifted the ball from Rob Jones' weak back header.

The striker had more time and space than he thought and his hurried effort was comfortably saved.

Craig Armstrong's final came to an abrupt end after 24 minutes.

He leapt with Michael Reddy and the two players clashed heads and ended up in a heap on the floor. Armstrong broke his nose in the collision and left the field immediately.

Reddy was out cold immediately after the clash and was also unfit to continue.

Andy Parkinson dodged the challenge of Gavin Caines and fell to the ground looking for a penalty, but the referee waved away his protests.

Gillespie sustained an injury after a challenge with the Rob Jones and Odejayi was sent on in the 20-year-old's place after 62 minutes.

Barely a minute later there were scenes of wild celebration in the Cheltenham end of the stadium as the deadlock was broken.

Guinan received a poor clearance on the right of the penalty area, cut inside and sent over a low cross to the far post with his left foot.

The curling delivery evaded Ashley Vincent and Odejayi, but the Cheltenham pair did enough to distract Mildenhall and the ball crept into the bottom right corner of his goal.

Cheltenham were handed a golden opportunity to double their lead seven minutes later. Curtis Woodhouse was dispossessed in the centre circle and McCann led the charge back into the Grimsby half.

The Northern Ireland international exchanged passes with Odejayi and found himself through on goal. He took the ball around the advancing Mildenhall and as he shaped to roll the ball into the empty net he was sent crashing to the ground by Woodhouse.

Woodhouse inconceivably escaped further punishment and McCann's spot-kick was saved by Mildenhall to restore hope for Russell Slade's men.

The frantic action continued and McCann came desperately close to making up for his penalty miss, clipping a delicate shot against the bar, with Mildenhall well beaten.

Shane Higgs made the most important save of his career with 10 minutes to go, reacting superbly to deny Gary Jones, who had met Junior Mendes' cross from the right with a firm header.

Cheltenham needed to hold their nerve for the five minutes of time added on, but the whistle finally blew and the promotion party began.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Higgs; J Gill, G Caines, S Duff, C Armstrong (M Bell 27); A Vincent (D Spencer 78), J Finnigan, G McCann, B Wilson; S Guinan, S Gillespie (K Odejayi 62). Subs not used S Brown, D Bird.

GRIMSBY TOWN: S Mildenhall; G Croft (B Futcher 75), R Jones, J Whittle, T Newey; J Mendes (M Goodfellow 83), C Woodhouse, P Bolland, A Parkinson; G Jones, M Reddy (G Cohen 27). Subs not used: J Kalala, C Toner.

REFEREE: P Taylor (Herts).

ATTENDANCE: 29,196.

The above is an abridged version of the full REPORT that appears in the book 'Cheltenham Town: Classic Matches', written by Jon Palmer, available now.