Carlisle 1-1 Stockport (Carlisle win 5-4 on penalties)
Paul Simpson further cemented himself into Carlisle United folklore after his side snatched promotion in the most dramatic of circumstances under the Wembley arch.
United were trailing Stockport County until six minutes before full-time when substitute Omari Patrick pounced on a loose ball to rescue an equaliser and force extra-time at 1-1.
A further 30 minutes did nothing to separate the sides, with Carlisle ultimately prevailing 5-4 on penalties, to send their travelling band of 15,000 passionate supporters back to Cumbria with ear to ear grins.
It means that Simpson has now led United to three promotions over two separate spells as manager, having returned to the club in February of last year.
Back then Carlisle were mired in a League Two relegation fight, with the idea of promotion being impossible to even comprehend.
Nevertheless, Simpson successfully performed a rescue operation last season, and has now led his side to a shock success.
Both sides began the match in nervous mood, with chances few and fair between. In fact, the first moment of note didn't occur until 10 minutes before half time when Stockport broke the deadlock in rather fortunate circumstances.
Isaac Olaofe looked to drill in a cross from the right hand side of the box but the ball inadvertently clipped off defender Jon Mellish's heel and looped over the hapless Tomáš Holý and into the net.
Spurred on by the cruel nature of the opener, Simpson's side quickly clicked into gear and squandered two gilt edged chances to draw level before the brake.
First, Joel Senior robbed the ball off Fraser Horsfall deep in Stockport's final third, but the former Altrincham man was wonderfully dispossessed by Akil Wright before he could send John-Kymani Gordon clear through.
Then, moments later Gordon did have the ball at his feet but the Crystal Palace loanee blazed over after dribbling into the box at speed.
Carlisle certainly ended the half as the better side but just after the break Stockport wasted a golden opportunity to double their advantage.
Wright found himself in acres of space in the box after a whipped free-kick delivery but he headed wide from six yards, to the despair of the County fans behind the goal.
Carlisle had left lead goalscorer Kristian Dennis and fellow attacker Patrick on the bench but Simpson threw the duo on as his side went in desperate search of an equaliser.
The Cumbrians had plenty of the ball but up until the very last moments of normal time they failed to muster a single clear cut chance in the second half.
Then, with 10 minutes left on the clock, they came inches away from drawing level.
Senior pulled the ball back to Mellish and with the keeper stranded, the former Gateshead man just had to beat defender Kyle Knoyle on the line, however he struck an effort straight at the right-back with the whole goal to aim at.
After this some in the Carlisle faithful could have been forgiven for thinking it simply wasn't their day but just four minutes later despair turned to utter relief.
Senior once again put in a brilliant cross into the box, and this time Patrick was on hand to slot an effort home after the ball and fallen to him following a deflection.
With their tails up, Simpson's side poured forward in the last reaming minutes, hunting down a winner but Stockport weathered the storm by the skin of their teeth.
Neither side was willing to settle for spot kicks during extra time and both came agonisingly close to nicking it, being denied by world class saves.
Former Carlisle loanee Jack Stretton forced Holý into a stunning acrobatic stop from a 20-yard drive, before Ben Hinchliffe somehow clawed away Kristian Dennis' flicked header, which looked destined to nestle into the net.
For the second day in a row, penalties were needed to decide the winner at Wembley, and this time Stockport's Ryan Rydel was left crestfallen, after his effort was brilliantly kept out by Holý.
21-year-old Taylor Charters had the expectations of the entire county of Cumbria on his shoulders but he showed experience and calmness beyond his years to fire home the final spot kick and set up a night to remember!
