There was heartbreak for Fleetwood Town and Scunthorpe United as their promotion dream died at the weekend. Bradford City and Millwall will fight it out in the League One play-off final for a place in the Championship next season.
It’s a repeat of last year’s semi-final, where the Lions progressed courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate victory but were eventually thwarted by Barnsley at Wembley.
The Bantams haven’t been in the second tier of English football since 2004 and even hit the dizzy heights of the Premier League between 1999 and 2001. Millwall, meanwhile, are looking to return to the Championship after being relegated two seasons ago.
Whether there is drama or not in that clash remains to be seen, but here are five more encounters that were action packed, gripping and utterly nail-biting.
In case you missed it, here are matches 30-26 and 25-21 in my countdown of the 30 greatest ever play-off games. Below are matches 20-16.
20. ALEXANDRA'S PROMOTION DERAILED
1993 Division Three play-off final: Crewe Alexandra 1-1 York City (3-5 on penalties)
Having been relegated from the old Third Division in 1988 and recording less-than impressive league finishes in their four seasons in between, York City returned to the third tier of English football in Alan Little's first campaign at the helm. Crewe Alexandra, relegated in 1991, had lost at the semi-final stage of the play-offs the previous season to Scunthorpe United but progressed to the 1993 final with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate victory over Walsall, with Tony Naylor scoring five goals in the process. In contrast, the Minstermen had narrowly edged out Bury 1-0 in their semi-final to reach Wembley.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Gary Swann swept home to round off a flowing team move to give York the lead as the first half of extra time drew to a close. With the game almost up, substitute Andy Woodward handled in the area and referee Allan Gunn awarded Crewe a penalty, which Dave McKearney converted to send the game to a shoot-out.
With the score at 3-2 to York on penalties, Gareth Whalley saw his effort saved by Dean Kiely to swing the tie in the Minstermen's favour. Nigel Pepper and Ashley Ward duly dispatched their spot kicks, but Wayne Hall was the hero as he stroked his penalty into the bottom corner to seal promotion for York.
Little's side almost sealed back-to-back promotions, but were beaten in the 1994 Division Two play-offs by Stockport County. Dario Gradi's Crewe won automatic promotion the following season, finishing third in Division Three.
19. FIELD OF GOALS
1995 Division Three play-off semi-final, second leg: Chesterfield 5-2 Mansfield Town (6-3 on aggregate)
After playing out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Field Mill, local rivals Chesterfield and Mansfield Town went head-to-head for a place in the 1995 Division Three play-off final. The Spireites finished third, having drawn 2-2 at Colchester United on the final day, meaning they were unable to overhaul second-placed Walsall, who drew 0-0 at Bury. Had the Shakers won, they would have leapfrogged both Chesterfield and Walsall into the automatic promotion spot.
Mansfield finished the season as the league's top scorers with 84 goals, but defensive frailties meant that they also conceded 59 times - scuppering any hopes they had of automatic promotion. Their attacking prowess showed in the opening stages at Saltergate as Paul Holland headed home inside three minutes in front of a rapturous travelling crowd. Tony Lormor's fabulous turn and finish levelled the scores, but the Stags retook the lead five minutes later as Steve Wilkinson capitalised on Nicky Law's error to slot home.
PLAY-OFFS AT 30
Celebrating 30 years of unbridled joy and inconsolable agony, a countdown of the greatest play-off matches: 20-16
Article posted: 9 May 2017
PLAY-OFFS AT 30
Celebrating 30 years of unbridled joy and inconsolable agony, a countdown of the greatest play-off matches: 25-21
5 May 2017
PLAY-OFFS AT 30
Former Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers and Leicester City midfielder Richie Wellens discusses his play-off experience
8 May 2017
York City's Wayne Hall and
Dean Kiely celebrate promotion
Dave McKearney celebrates
his dramatic equaliser
Steve Walters in action
for Crewe Alexandra
Steve Wilkinson in action
for Mansfield Town
Tony Lomor leaps
to head the ball
Nicky Law would prove to
be Chesterfield's hero
Phil Robinson levelled the tie for Chesterfield and the pendulum swung in the hosts’ favour as Mansfield were reduced to ten men. Law converted from the spot five minutes into extra-time and added a second shortly after before Jonathan Howard completed the scoring on a frantic night at Saltergate.
Chesterfield went onto secure promotion with a 2-0 victory over Bury in the final, while the Stags had to wait until 2002 before they won promotion to Division Two - only to suffer immediate relegation.
18. BLADES CHOP DOWN FOREST
2003 Championship play-off semi-final, second leg: Sheffield United 4-3 Nottingham Forest
Michael Brown's penalty had ensured Sheffield United returned to Bramall Lane with a draw ahead of the second leg with Nottingham Forest. Paul Hart's Forest side were aiming to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 1999 - a season in which they were thumped 8-1 by Manchester United at the City Ground. The Blades, meanwhile, were looking for a place in the top flight for the first time since 1994.
Goals from David Johnson and Andy Reid either side of the break put the visitors in pole position at Bramall Lane, but Brown pulled one back for the hosts on the hour mark before Steve Kabba equalised eight minutes later to send the game to extra time.
Michael Tonge in action
for Sheffield United
Paul Peschisolido
celebrates his goal
Delirium on the Blades'
bench at full-time
Paul Peschisolido put the Blades ahead for the first time in the tie and Des Walker's own goal three minutes from time all but secured Sheffield United's place in the final. Rob Page put through his own net with one minute to go to set up a tense finale, but Sheffield United held on to secure a place in the final.
Neil Warnock's side went onto lose 3-0 in the play-off final to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the second time the Blades had failed at this stage. Forest were relegated to League One two seasons later, while United suffered the same fate in 2011.
17. THE GILLS AWAY DAY
1987 Third Division play-off semi-final, second leg: Sunderland 4-3 Gillingham (6-6 on aggregate, Gillingham win on away goals)
It was the very first season of the play-offs and, as was the format three decades ago, one team from the division above (Sunderland, on this occasion) and three promotion chasing teams battled it out for the right to either stave off relegation for another year or earn their place in the next tier the hard way.
A hat-trick from Gillingham's Tony Cascarino and two goals from Sunderland's Mark Proctor in the first leg at Priestfield ensured the tie was finely poised heading to Roker Park three days later. Thousands of Newcastle United fans paid on the gate at the away end to cheer on the visitors, in the hope that they would see their local rivals relegated to the Third Division. With the score at 2-2 and the Gills heading through, Gary Bennett equalised for the Black Cats with two minutes remaining to send a nail-biting contest into extra-time.
Gary Bennett's goal sent
the game to extra time
Tony Cascarino proved to be a
thorn in the Black Cats' side
Anguish for the fans as
Sunderland are relegated
Two minutes into extra-time, Cascarino netted a priceless third away goal for Gillingham leaving the hosts requiring a further two goals to stand a chance of retaining their Second Division status. Keith Bertschin pulled one back for Sunderland three minutes into the second period, but the Black Cats were unable to find the all-important fifth goal on the night and succumbed to relegation.
The delirious fans from Kent were joined in their celebrations by hordes of Newcastle supporters, but their promotion dream ended with play-off final defeat to Swindon Town.
16. TANGERINE DREAM
2010 Championship play-off final: Blackpool 3-2 Cardiff City
Having suffered three relegations in a decade between 1971 and 1981, Blackpool were looking to claim one of the most unlikely top flight promotions in recent years under the guidance of Ian Holloway. Cardiff, meanwhile, were aiming to become the first Welsh team to reach the Premier League. Dave Jones' side hadn't been in the top flight since 1961 and, like their opponents, had slipped into the fourth tier of English football before their resurgence up the leagues.
The Tangerine's clinched the final play-off place on the last day, but they could have so easily lost out to Swansea City, who were unable to claim all three points at Doncaster Rovers. Swans forward Lee Trundle had a goal ruled out in stoppage time to keep Holloway's side in the top six.
Michael Chopra celebrates
the opening goal
Brett Ormerod scores the
winner before half-time
Blackpool players celebrate
promotion to the Premier League
The Bluebirds overcame Leicester on penalties in their semi-final, while Blackpool came out on top in a thrilling encounter with favourites Nottingham Forest to secure their place at Wembley. Michael Chopra got Cardiff off to the perfect start inside nine minutes before Charlie Adam equalised with a stunning free-kick four minutes later. The Bluebirds retook the lead eight minutes before half-time through Joe Ledley, but Gary Taylor-Fletcher levelled the scores once more before Brett Ormerod scored what proved to be the winner in first half injury time.
Despite an incredible start to their Premier League story, Blackpool were relegated from the Premier League after just one season. Cardiff had to wait until 2013 to clinch promotion and went up as champions, but were also relegated after one campaign in the top flight.