Boreham Wood 1 Tranmere Rovers 2

INCREDIBLE Tranmere Rovers are back in the Football League after playing almost the entire 90 minutes of the National League Play Off final with 10 men, but still had enough to beat Boreham Wood at Wembley Stadium.

Liam Ridehalgh was sent off after only 40 seconds for Rovers but they took an early lead when Andy Cook headed home in the sixth minute.

The Wood equalised deep into first half stoppage time through Bruno Andrade but despite their numerical disadvantage the Whites dug deep and James Norwood wrote his name into Wirral folklore, nodding home the winner nine minutes from time.

Victory puts Prenton Park back in League Two after a three-year hiatus amid the most dramatic scenes imaginable.

It must surely rank as one of the club’s greatest ever victories, achieved against all the odds.

Micky Mellon made one change to the side that overcame Ebbsfleet United after extra time in the semi-final.

Full back Adam Buxton could not recover from his stomach injury in time so huge defender Manny Monthe deputised at right back.

Wembley was well under capacity, but you wouldn't have known it, such was the noise generated by the partisan Super White Army, who belted out the National Anthem like a victory cry.

But no sooner had the game got underway, Rovers had their first moment of adversity.

Ridehalgh went to lengths to get the first tackle of the match in on Ricky Shakes, but referee Neil Hair didn't like it and showed the Tranmere left back a straight red card in side 40 seconds.

But in a blistering start Rovers took the lead five minutes later when Cook rose highest to meet Norwood’s cross and send a bullet header past Grant Smith into the net.

As the Tranmere players celebrated, they were belted with bottles thrown from the Boreham Wood end.

Josh Ginnelly was struck on the head but was able to continue.

Larnell Cole, however, was tactically substituted for youngster Eddie Clark in a pulsating start to the match that was bursting with drama.

Cook nearly doubled his tally on the quarter of an hour mark when his penalty box shot was blocked for a corner, following Ollie Norburn’s pullback.

The Wood’s Angelo Balanta wanted a penalty on 24 minutes when he went to ground under pressure from Monthe but the referee wasn’t interested.

A through ball from Balanta put Michael Folivi in on goal but Ritchie Sutton recovered to force a corner.

By the 33rd minute, Rovers had used two subs.

Ginnelly, who had been struck by a missile after Cook’s goal, was replaced by Connor Jennings, as Tranmere adapted their shape to counter their opponent’s numerical advantage.

Five minutes before the break Michael Fovili threw himself to the turf – again under the guard of Monthe – in the vein hope of buying a penalty. Nothing given.

When Balanta gave away a free kick for a high foot on Norwood the Boreham Wood striker’s frustration boiled over.

He thrusted the ball into the ground within inches of the referee and was booked for dissent.

During the six minutes of first half injury time an interception from Norburn released Cook but he drifted too far wide and the chance fizzled out.

Norwood tried his look with a measured curler but it didn’t have enough power to beat Smith.

There was still time for Rovers’ centre back Sutton to hobble off injured before the break, forcing Mellon to make his third and final substitute, bringing on Jay Harris.

But as time lapsed well past the stated duration of injury time, Boreham Wood drew level.

A cross from Danny Woodards made its way as far as the penalty spot and Andrade was on had to side foot the ball past Davies.

That was hard luck on Rovers who had thus far superbly handled every challenge thrown at them both on and off the pitch.

After a well-deserved rest Rovers started the second half in positive fashion. Jennings forced his way in on goal and saw a drilled shot saved by Smith before Cook’s rebound was deflected out for a corner.

Davies then had to be quick off his line at the other end to deny Woodards chasing onto a ball over the top.

Jennings tried to repeat his 30-yard wonder goal of last year, but on this occasion he dragged it wide.

Folivi then went in the book for a late tackle on Harris, as the Super White Army found their voice and started to turn Wembley into a cauldron of noise.

Birkenheaders are used to taking a few hard knocks over the years so there was no chance of them giving up here.

A curling free kick from Andrade was pushed around the post for a corner by Davies, before Rovers were forced to deal with a two more – the last of which was spilt by the goalkeeper but cleared to safety.

Rovers fought back. A deflected shot from Jennings skipped across the penalty area, only inches away from the outstretched foot of Norwood.

From the subsequent Jeff Hughes corner, Norwood headed wide.

When Davies dropped a corner with quarter of an hour to play, he was indebted to Jennings, who cleared the danger.

But with nine minutes remaining in the most dramatic fashion incredible Tranmere retook the lead.

A cross from Jennings took a nick off a defender that lifted it higher into the air before Norwood directed a brilliant header past Smith into the corner of the net, sending the Tranmere fans – and without apology the Rovers press box media representation – wild with delight.

The closing stages were nervous but Rovers saw it through and will now be elevated back into the Football League alongside National League champions Macclesfield Town.

The victory atoned for defeat at the same stage 12 months ago to Forest Green Rovers.

It is a day that the football club and it’s amazing supporters will remember for years and years to come.

Match stats

Boreham Wood 1 (Andrade 45+8)

Tranmere Rovers 2 (Cook 6, Norwood 81)

Half-time: 1-1

Referee: Neil Hair 5/10

Attendance: 16, 306

Match rating 5/5

Star man: Manny Monthe (Tranmere defender).

Boreham Wood: (4-4-2): Smith, Woodards (Thomas 83), Ricketts, Stephens, Shakes, Champion, Murtagh, Andrade, Balanta, Folivi (Andrade 70), Doe

Subs not used: Harfield, Burbidge, Davey

Tranmere: (4-4-2): Davies; Monthe, McNulty, Sutton (Harris 45), Ridehalgh; Ginnelly (Jennings 33), Hughes, Norburn, Cole (Clarke 9); Cook, Norwood Subs not used: Taylor, Mangan

Bookings Boreham Wood – Balanta, Folivi; Tranmere - Jennings

Red cards Tranmere - Ridehalgh