May 2009 proved a major month in the history of Scunthorpe United Football Club, as they undertook a rollercoaster ride which ultimately led to promotion.

They entered the fifth month of the year in sixth place in the League One table with just one match left - the game was against seventh placed Tranmere Rovers, who could have overtaken them in the top six should they have won.

Glanford Park was full for a tense final day of the season as the Iron looked to win a place in the end of the season play-offs.

The game got off to a nervy start and the visiting team went ahead late in the first half as Craig Curran headed home a cross from Ian Moore at the far post.

They almost added a second through Steven Jennings, but Josh Lillis - in for the injured Joe Murphy - got down superbly to tip the ball out and make one of the most important saves of the season.

Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper rained in shot after shot as Scunthorpe looked for a way back into the game. They only needed one goal as a draw would see them finish sixth in the table, but whether it was going to come was a different matter.

Rovers were reduced to 10 men when defender Gareth Edds was sent off for a second bookable offence

Scunthorpe kept on pressing and finally struck with just two minutes to go as captain Cliff Byrne headed home a free-kick from Grant McCann. The 88th minute goal brought about mass hysteria as the Iron played out the final few minutes of stoppage time and celebrated getting into the play-offs in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.

The fans invaded the pitch and, after they had been cleared back into the stands, the players came out to do a lap of honour.

They would face Milton Keynes Dons in the semi-final of the play-offs over two legs, with the first taking place at Glanford Park the Friday after Tranmere.

Like Tranmere six days before, it was another tight affair, with neither side wanting to give anything away that could prove costly in the second leg.

United started well and took the lead on 10 minutes when Martyn Woolford was quick to react to Willy Gueret's tipping out of Hayes' shot by flicking the ball into the back of the net.

Aaron Wilbraham soon equalised with a header from close range though after a corner which shouldn't have been and chances remained limited in the match.

Hooper headed home from a Hayes cross to seemingly put the hosts back ahead but it was ruled out for offside.

David Mirfin made a superb late block on the goal-line as Scunthorpe looked forward to the second leg a week later knowing they still had a fantastic chance of making the final.

The week between the two legs slowly passed by as all the other Football League play-off semi-final games were played.

The stage was set for the last of the play-off semi-finals between Scunthorpe and Milton Keynes Dons the following Friday at Stadium:MK.

There were chances and close shaves for either team but in the end, after 120 minutes, the scores remained locked at 0-0 and a penalty shoot-out was called for.

McCann, Hayes and Andy Crosby all stepped up to convert the first three United penalties, while the Dons also notched theirs.

Captain Byrne then blasted his spot-kick over the crossbar, and Joe Murphy made a superb stop from Jason Puncheon to keep it level.

Liam trotter netted the next Scunthorpe penalty, while the Dons fired home theirs.

Matt Sparrow, the club's longest serving player, struck the sixth one but it cannoned back into play. Jude Stirling could have sent the Dons to Wembley with the next penalty as the match had reached sudden death, but Murphy excellently tipped it out.

Jonathan Forte, Sam Togwell and Ian Morris all scored before the Dons finally missed too. Veteran former Norwegian international Tore Andre Flo hit the crossbar, and Scunthorpe were through.

The Iron's players charged towards their fans at the opposite end of the pitch to celebrate reaching Wembley for the second time this season, and the fourth in their history, on a truly memorable night which was captured by the live Sky TV cameras.

There were nine days of feverish anticipation before the final against Millwall at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, May 24.

The Scunthorpe support was preparing to travel down to the capital in its numbers, although the current financial climate meant that fewer fans made the journey than seven weeks earlier for the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The Lions had sold more than 40,000 tickets but United's more modest following of just over 9,000 made up for their lack of numbers and one of the greatest games played yet at the new Wembley Stadium was about to take place, in sweltering conditions.

The Iron, boosted by leading striker Hooper being fit, started the game well and were rewarded when they took the lead six minutes in.

Hayes and Hooper linked up well before setting up Woolford, whose low shot was tipped out by David Forde, but only to the feet of Sparrow, who rammed in the rebound in front of the jubilant Iron following.

The pressure continued and Hooper hit the foot of the post with an angled shot a short while later.

Millwall slowly edged their way back into the match though, and Gary Alexander struck a sensational equaliser when he picked up a loose ball more than 30 yards from goal and at an angle and unleashed a dipping volley which looped over Murphy and crashed into the back of the United net.

Just two minutes later, the Lions had taken the lead - Alexander connecting with a cross to head a low close range effort past Murphy.

They entered half-time ahead and the second-half started slowly before building into a dramatic last half hour. Substitute Trotter, who had come on for Togwell, had a shot cleared off the goal-line after a clever Scunthorpe corner, and the Iron finally equalised in the 70th minute.

Woolford bust down the left and sent the ball across goal for Sparrow, who calmly side-stepped the goalkeeper before scoring with his left foot.

The stage was set now for a dramatic finale. Alexander headed wide a superb chance to put the Lions back ahead and seal his hat-trick.

Then, Scunthorpe regained the lead on 85 minutes. Woolford got the ball on the edge of the box and arrowed in a low strike past the despairing dive of Forde and to the elation of the Iron following.

Murphy had to tip out an effort from Neil Harris, but the Iron held on and celebrated one of the most famous wins of their history.

Captain Byrne climbed up the famous Wembley steps along with his team-mates to hold aloft the League One play-off trophy. There were wild celebrations in the stadium, in London and all over the town of Scunthorpe.

The club's mission of winning promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking was accomplished,

May's league record
P1 W0 L0 D1 Pts 1.

May's top scorers
Matt Sparrow and Martyn Woolford (two).