Tranmere will be playing League Two football again next season after attempts to overturn a one goal deficit against Morecambe in the playoff semi-finals came up short.

Aaron Wildig gave the hosts an early lead, doubling their advantage on aggregate, but James Vaughan pulled one back in the second half to set up a grandstand finish.

Despite a late push, Rovers could not force extra time and it is Derek Adams' side who will be heading to Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ian Dawes made one change to the side that lost 2-1 to Morecambe on Thursday evening at Prenton Park, bringing in Paul Lewis for Otis Khan in search of a greater aerial presence.

Rovers made a positive start with a Vaughan heading a deep Liam Ridehalgh cross against the post.

But there was a heavy price to pay for that close call, as the hosts broke away down the other end and Wildig managed to scuff a low shot beyond Joe Murphy to give Morecambe the lead and double their advantage in the tie.

Murphy was called back into action seven minutes later when he tipped a Sam Lavelle header over the bar from Wildig's cross.

Perhaps it was no surprise that the remainder of the first half took on a similar narrative to the first leg, with Tranmere enjoying plenty of possession but Morecabme defending in numbers and counter-attack when the opportunity arose.

But just before the break, Rovers came close to drawing the match level, when Lewis latched onto a loose ball in the box, forcing a full stretch save out of Kyle Letheren.

Knowing that something needed to change, Dawes made a double substitution at half time, bringing on Khan and veteran striker David Nugent for Lee O'Connor and Kieron Morris respectively.

They got a return on their adjustment seven minutes into the second half when a Liam Feeney corner was met by the head of Nugent, before Vaughan bundled the ball home on the goal line.

Morecambe's players protested for offside against the Rovers striker but the goal was allowed to stand.

Looking to strike while the iron was hot, Dawes made another bold double change with half an hour to go. 

Kaiyne Woolery was introduced for Blackett-Taylor and attacking fullback Calum MacDonald replaced Ridehalgh.

To their credit, Morecambe continued to defend robustly and kept refreshed Rovers largely at bay.

But with 11 minutes to go, a brilliant cross from Feeney was met by Manny Monthe, forcing a reflex save out of Letheren.

Moments later Vaughan followed up a shot from Woolery that was spilled by the Shrimpers' 'keeper, but although Peter Clarke chipped the loose ball home, Vaughan had gone in late on the Letheren and picked up a yellow card.

The home crowd's nerves hit fever-pitch as the board went up to show that there would be six minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

But Tranmere could not force the goal they needed and they are left to wonder what might have been this season if performances had not dipped from the Easter weekend onwards.