Crewe boss Lee Bell hailed his players after claiming “absolutely nobody” outside of their dressing room believed they could overcome Doncaster to reach the League Two play-off final.
The Railwaymen wiped out a 2-0 first-leg deficit courtesy of centre-back Mickey Demetriou’s 10th goal of the season and a James Maxwell own goal just past the quarter-hour mark at The Eco-Power Stadium.
After extra time failed to separate the two sides, on-loan Wycombe keeper Max Stryjek then decisively saved Hakeeb Adelakun’s penalty to clinch a 4-3 shoot-out triumph, having also denied Zain Westbrooke.
Demetriou also saw a spot-kick saved by home keeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala, but Courtney Baker-Richardson, Ryan Cooney, Lewis Leigh and Charlie Kirk were all successful from 12 yards.
Home trio Joe Ironside, George Miller and Owen Bailey also converted their attempts but it was of no consolation to a Doncaster team who had gone into the match unbeaten in 13 games, stretching back to March 2.
Bell said: “It was tremendous. Nobody – absolutely nobody – gave us a chance apart from the lads in our dressing room.
“Nobody even gave us a chance in the first leg, but I kept telling people not to count us out, because they haven’t got a clue about the group of people I have got.
“Some of the players were only 50 per cent fit but, when you bring the whole group together, I know they are a match for anybody in the league.
“It was a fantastic achievement and they were great scenes at the end and everybody thoroughly deserved it. We had a great backing and it was great to see them all come because it might have been easy for some to stay away after the first leg.
“We now have a massive task ahead at Wembley whether it’s Crawley or MK Dons, but we’ve got to take this all in and enjoy it first.”
Devastated Doncaster boss Grant McCann expressed his sympathy for a sell-out home crowd and hopes to repay them with a title-winning campaign next season.
“It’s the first time the club have filled the stadium in years and I’m gutted we couldn’t give them anything, because they kept with us right the way through the game and I feel like we have let them down,”
McCann said.
“I’m immensely proud of the players for how we turned the season around, because nobody would have given us a chance of getting into this position but, ultimately, we have failed and, as much as it hurts to say that, it’s the truth.
“We will be going to win the league next season so, if anybody thinks we can’t, they won’t be at the club.
“When their (Crewe) celebrations were going on, I opened the dressing room door so they could hear the noise, because they have to use that as motivation when they come back in the summer.”
