Stockport County 3 Rochdale 2: Jim Gannon's Stockport made it fifth-time lucky at Wembley but were made to sweat in their Coca-Cola League Two play-off final win over local rivals Rochdale.
County manager Gannon, 10 years a player at Edgeley Park, had been a Wembley loser four times with Stockport, who clinched their first promotion in 11 years.
The Hatters fell behind to Rochdale defender Rory McArdle's 23rd-minute corner, but once Nathan Stanton's own goal hauled Stockport level, Gannon's side seized control.
Anthony Pilkington headed County into a 49th-minute lead and Liam Dickinson bludgeoned home a third before Dale winger Adam Rundle set up a nerve-jangling finale with a 77th-minute volley.
Gannon lifted County from the depths of League Two in January 2006 and this win will ease the memory of two Wembley play-off final and two defeats in the final of the Autoglass Trophy.
Neutrals can only sympathise with Rochdale in their centenary year.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)