Scunthorpe United were relegated from Sky Bet League One, following a 3-2 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
Goals from Kyle Wootton and Josh Morris at Home Park weren’t enough to keep the Iron up, with Southend also victorious against Sunderland, which meant both the Iron and Argyle will be playing in League Two next season.
Jak Alnwick was called into action within minutes, producing a point blank save to deny Freddie Ladapo from close range. The ‘keeper was forced to turn Antoni Sarcevic’s shot from distance around the post moments later.
Plymouth’s early opener gave them hope. Lloyd Jones netted from a goalmouth scramble - with the defender on hand to nod in the first goal of the game, virtually on the line.
The Iron responded almost instantly. Matthew Lund’s delivery deflected into the path of Wootton but he was denied by Matt Macey.
There was then a let off for the hosts, Lund unleashed a left-footed effort from the edge of the area, striking the foot of the post. Wootton then blazed the rebound wide of the woodwork.
Morris was brought down within the perimeter of the penalty area, but the referee waved away appeals for a spot kick.
Ladapo doubled Argyle’s lead with 35 minutes on the clock, chipping the ball over Alnwick between the sticks after some confusion at the back for the Iron.
At the other end of the pitch, Lund latched onto a throughball but was denied by a difficult angle.
Graham Carey tried his luck from 25 yards out but Alnwick parried the shot to safety to keep the Iron in the contest, and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson cleaned up.
With minutes until the half-time whistle, Wootton halved the deficit in scrappy fashion, lifting Scunthorpe spirits ahead of the break.
Morris levelled in controversial circumstances, intercepting Macey’s ball and curling in the equaliser for the Iron after a lengthy debate between the officials.
It wasn’t long before Argyle restored their advantage through Graham Carey, taking on the Iron defence and thumping home with 20 minutes remaining on the watch.
The Iron continued to apply pressure. Adam Hammill led the charge, peppering the Argyle back four with crosses, only to be blocked.
Argyle threatened late in the day as Lameiras let fly, but Alnwick kept the Portuguese midfielder out.
In seven minutes of injury time, Lameiras hit the upright and van Veen was denied one-on-one but the result ended 3-2 to Plymouth.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Plymouth Argyle: Macey (Cooper, 63), Sawyer, Songo’o, Edwards, Sarcevic (Canavan, 84), Fox (Ness, 80), Carey, Lameiras, Ladapo, Jones, Threlkeld.
Substitutes not used: Taylor, Anderson, Smith-Brown, Fletcher.
Scunthorpe United: Alnwick, Borthwick-Jackson, Webster, Lund, Morris, Perch, Lewis (Thomas, 81), Novak, McArdle (van Veen, 77), Wootton (Hallam, 73), Hammill.
Substitutes not used: Flatt, Burgess, Sutton, McGahey.
Attendance: 11,907 (421 away).