Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 1.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2Dag & RedDagenham & Redbridge1
Bristol Rovers won promotion to League One in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season as they beat Dagenham & Redbridge, while closest rivals Accrington were held to a draw.
Lee Brown struck Rovers' winner in stoppage time as they came from behind to win against the relegated Daggers.
Billy Bodin had cancelled out Matthew Cash's opener and Rovers looked set to draw despite having 35 shots on goal.
But Brown clinched the Pirates' second consecutive promotion on 92 minutes.
Darrell Clarke's side, who were relegated to the National League on the final day of the season in 2014, began Saturday in fourth place, two points behind second-placed Accrington.
Wins for both Accrington and Oxford would have left Rovers in the play-offs, but Stanley failed to beat Stevenage, meaning Rovers finished third on goal difference.
Top scorer Matty Taylor spurned the best of the home side's many second-half chances before Brown's late twist.
Throwing players forward in search of the winner, Rovers almost conceded but Brown cleared off the line to deny Dagenham.
As full-time loomed, Taylor hit the post but the rebound fell to defender Brown, who netted to set off jubilant celebrations at the Memorial Stadium.
Clarke's side lost just one of their final 14 games of the season to return to the third tier for the first time since being relegated in 2011.
Bristol Rovers match-winner Lee Brown told BBC Radio Bristol: "It means the world to me. It means so much to so many people.
"It just happened to fall to me. I was the lucky one. I'm just so happy it hit the back of the net.
"What a group of players, I can't rate them highly enough. It's going to be a long night."
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mildenhall
- 2Leadbitter
- 4Lockyer
- 5McChrystal
- 3BrownBooked at 90mins
- 23Bodin
- 14Lines
- 7MansellSubstituted forEasterat 80'minutes
- 21MontañoSubstituted forGoslingat 55'minutes
- 10Taylor
- 30GaffneySubstituted forHarrisonat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Parkes
- 8O Clarke
- 9Harrison
- 11Gosling
- 17Easter
- 25Puddy
- 29McBurnie
Dag & Red
Formation 3-5-2
- 30Cousins
- 29Pennell
- 6DikamonaSubstituted forConnorsat 45'minutes
- 26Hyam
- 28Shephard
- 8BoucaudSubstituted forHawkinsat 87'minutes
- 25Cash
- 18Raymond
- 23Hemmings
- 12Doidge
- 10ChambersSubstituted forCuretonat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Connors
- 7Cureton
- 9McClure
- 15Hawkins
- 31Hyde
- 34Heather
- 35Moore
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 11,130
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamDag & Red
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home35
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home16
- Away4
- Corners
- Home17
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home2
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 1.
Post update
Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jimmy Shephard (Dagenham and Redbridge).
Booking
Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol Rovers 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 1. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Luke Pennell.
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Attempt missed. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt missed. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Dagenham and Redbridge. Oliver Hawkins replaces Andre Boucaud because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark McChrystal (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Mark Cousins.
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Attempt saved. Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Christian Doidge (Dagenham and Redbridge) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Jack Connors.
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Attempt missed. Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Andre Boucaud.
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Attempt blocked. Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Jermaine Easter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Andre Boucaud (Dagenham and Redbridge).
