Tranmere Rovers 4 Ebbsfleet United 2 AET 90 mins (2-2)

TERRIFIC Tranmere are 90 minutes from a return to the Football League – eventually overcoming Ebbsfleet United after extra-time in what was an incredible football match.

Luke Coulson gave the visitors an early lead before James Norwood drew Rovers level before the break.

A mistake by Scott Davies gifted Myles Weston a goal after the break as the visitors went back in front, but a superb Josh Ginnelly strike five minutes later restored parity and despite plenty of home pressure that’s how it remained after 90 minutes.

But in extra time Norwood and Larnell Cole delivered with moments of outstanding quality to send the Whites to Wembley in front of a raucous crowd of almost 9,000.

Micky Mellon made one change to the side that started against Hartlepool last weekend, recalling fit-again full back Adam Buxton at the expense of Jay Harris, who had to settle to a place on the bench.

Amid the type of atmosphere you'd expect to encounter in a top end Championship match – never a mind a non-league game – Rovers kicked off attacking the bouncing Kop end.

Eccentric Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore had to be alert to push Andy Cook’s header round the post for a corner in the fifth minute, following a deep free kick from Liam Ridehalgh.

A rapid Rovers counter-attack got James Norwood in behind the visitors’ defence but the legs of Ashmore denied him.

Cook then had a shot blocked on the edge of the box as the home side tried to make their dominance count.

But United came within a whisker of taking the lead themselves on 13 minutes when Corey Whitely flashed a volley just wide of the post with Scott Davies beaten.

And two minutes later they went one better when a cross form the right was met by the towering head of Coulson who brilliantly directed the ball past Davies into the net.

Daryl MacMahon's side were encouraged and started to cause Tranmere some problems.

With the hosts out of shape Whitely pulled an ambitious volley wide as early tension started to mount in the stands.

Another cross from the right was only parried by Davies and the Tranmere 'keeper could count himself lucky when Danny Kedwell’s attempted flick landed the wrong side of the post.

Rovers regrouped and just before the half hour mark they almost drew level.

Ginnelly danced around his marker and fired a low ball into the box.

Cole and Norwood both saw shots blocked on the line by Ashmore and a ruck of defenders before Cook fired over the bar.

Twelve minutes before the break they were level. Rovers worked the ball out to Norwood on the left and the former Forest Green Rovers striker steadied himself before firing it low into the bottom corner of the net.

Prenton Park rejuvenated.

A deflected shot from Ginnelly was pushed around the post by Ashmore, but not before Ebbsfleet's goal scorer Coulson hobbled off with an injury.

A cross from Ridehalgh was almost nodded home by Hughes but he missed his header by millimetres.

In first half injury time Cole controlled the ball in the middle of the box and tried a first time volley but it hit a 'fleet defender and was gathered by Ashmore.

The Ebbsfleet stopper clearly had an appetite for time wasting – dragging out every goal kick and clearance he could to pantomime villain levels.

Soon after the break, a great ball from Ginnelly was whipped across the six-yard box but neither Cook or Norwood could get on the end of it.

But on 50 minutes Ebbsfleet retook the lead in calamitous fashion.

Hesitation between Davies and Ritchie Sutton resulted in the former's clearance deflecting of the latter, straight into the path of substitute Weston, who rolled the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

The Kop was stunned into silence, but not for long.

Five minutes later, the outstanding Ginnelly skipped past Jack Connors again and this time drilled a beautiful strike beyond Ashmore that almost burst the net.

The on-loan winger has struggled for game time since coming to Prenton Park, but here he was inspiring others around him – not the mention the crowd.

Norwood tried a curler from the edge of the box, just past the hour mark, but it was straight into the clutches of Ashmore.

A sweeping break instigated by Cook saw Norwood slip Ollie Norburn in on goal but he chose to cut inside and Ashmore used his sizeable frame to smother the ball.

Rovers went close again when Cook sent a bullet header inches wide from Ridehalgh’s corner.

A pull back from Hughes was met by Norburn in the box but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Connors.

With quarter of an hour to go Whitely flashed one wide of Davies’ goal on the turn as the visitors reminded Tranmere of their ever-lurking threat.

With just over 10 minutes to play a shot-cum-cross from Norwood was parried into the air by Ashmore but just as Cook prepared to nod it in United captain Dave Winfield somehow produced a miraculous headed clearance off the line.

Adam Buxton was no longer able to continue and was replaced by Manny Monthe, who went straight in at right back.

Hughes tried his luck from 30 yards but it sailed well over the bar, as the Whites looked for a late winner, but as it would be, the sides could not be separated and the tie headed into extra time.

Cook bulldozed his way into the penalty area after the restart but could only shoot wide, with the aid of a deflection.

Extra time was a bridge too far for the brilliant Ginnelly and he had to be replaced by Harris on 95 minutes.

A weaving run from the tireless Norwood ended when he fired a shot just over the bar.

On 101 minutes Norwood got a serious return on his investment.

Having won a foul on the edge of the box, the striker curled a sublime free kick into the top corner that left Ashmore clutching thin air.

Cue scenes of euphoria across three sides of this famous old ground.

As the game moved into the second half of extra time the drama was cranked up to maximum.

First Cole collected the ball on the edge of the box and launched what can only be described as a cruise missile into the top corner of the Kop goal, doubling Rovers extra time advantage.

Ebbsfleet were now running on empty and it all came to a head when Norwood ran through on goal looking for a hat-trick goal.

He was denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle but in he ensuing melee United captain Winfield appeared to strike a blow at Harris, starting a 22-man ruck in the middle of the pitch.

Winfield was dismissed but the trouble continued off the pitch and Tranmere's goal keeping coach Eric Nixon was sent to the stands.

With their guests depleted, Rovers were able to see out the rest of extra time and will now head to Wembley next Saturday for their date with destiny.

Regardless of the outcome of that match, people will be talking about this one for years to come.

Match stats:

Tranmere Rovers 4 (Norwood 33, 101 Ginnelly 56, Cole 106)

Ebbsfleet United 2 (Coulson 15, Weston) 51

AET 90 mins: 2-2

Half time: 1-1

Star man: James Norwood (Tranmere striker)

Attendance: 8,898

Entertainment: 5/5

Ref rating: Peter Wright (7/10)

Tranmere (4-4-2): Davies 6; Buxton 6 (Monthe 82, 6), McNulty 8, Sutton 8, Ridehalgh 7; Cole 7, Norburn 7, Hughes 7, Ginnelly 9 (Harris 95, 6); Cook 6, Norwood 10

Subs not used: Taylor, Harris, Mangan, Dunn, Monthe

Ebbsfleet (4-4-2): Ashmore 8, Connors 8, Rance 6, Winfield 8, Clark 7, Powell 6 (McCoy 70, 5) Drury 6, Kedwell 7, Coulson 7 (Weston 33, 7), Wilson 6, Whitely 7

Subs not used: Miles, Wabo, Bush