Tranmere Rovers’ goalkeeper Scott Davies was full of pride after Micky Mellon’s side earned promotion to Sky Bet League One after overcoming 10-man Newport County 1-0 in the Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Connor Jennings was the hero as his 119th minute header from Jake Caprice’s cross sealed a return to the third-tier for the first time since 2014.
Rovers had competed in a tight 90 minutes of goalless action with Michael Flynn’s side, a game which saw Davies superbly deny Jamille Matt’s close-range header in the second half before Exiles captain Mark O’Brien was sent off by referee Ross Joyce after bringing down Norwood.
With penalties looming on a sun-kissed afternoon in the capital, midfielder Jennings’ sent the SWA into delirium when, unmarked at the back post in the six-yard box, he powered a header from Caprice’s pass beyond goalkeeper Joe Day.
Blackpool-native Davies, 32, was over the moon as TRFC made it two in a row under the Wembley Stadium arch, insisting that the Club deserves its place in Sky Bet League One, a division they have not graced for five years.
Davies said: “Pride is the biggest thing overriding me, we were written off, we played at a lower level and finally people are going to stand up and say they are good players and deserve to play in League One.
“When I came to Tranmere and I left League One, people probably didn’t think I’d come back but now not just for myself, for Nors, Connor, Macca, Jay Harris, players that have played at a lower level for so long and finally people are going to give them a bit of credit now and they deserve it.
“The core of the group has been together for a few years now and we’ve been through a lot, we’ve been through a lot of negatives, a lot of lows but some big highs as well and I’ll never forget this, it will change my life and I’m so proud of everyone.
“It was nip and tuck, their keeper has made saves, I’ve made saves, Macca came on and he was unbelievable, he won big headers, so was Manny, Connor, what a moment for him, he deserved it.
“I thought they had some good chances after the red card, it was never going to be easy and fair play to them, but I thought we were different class.
“We stuck to what we do, and we lived it out and we are delighted.
“I said to the goalie coach, Banksy, that’s why us goalies work so hard and how hard we work for them. Those moments can change a game.
“I was in tears at the end of the game and I’m genuinely so, so proud.
“Everyone deserves it, the gaffer and Jacko deserve it, the chairman deserves it, we all deserve it so I’m beaming with pride.
“They (the SWA) were unbelievable, they have been like that all year at Prenton Park and I can’t speak highly enough of them over the past few years and they’ve got us over the line again.”
To listen to a full interview with Scott following the triumph at Wembley Stadium, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to our iFollow account