Rotherham United 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 3 - Millers lose their mean streak and Wembley heartache follows

Of course, there will always be the memories of this afternoon at Wembley – only the second in the Millers' history – but there will also be plenty of regrets.

After missing out on automatic promotion, the Millers were regarded as favourites to beat Dagenham & Redbridge.

However, the defensive mean streak which carried Ronnie Moore's men into the League Two play-off final went AWOL during a five-goal thriller.

With 30-goal marksman Adam Le Fondre also unable to impact on proceedings, there was no place for any mirth and frivolity at the end.

Such a shame that especially with Rotherham's most famous supporters, slapstick duo Paul and Barry Chuckle, watching from the stands.

Over 15,000 supporters, nearly four times the Millers' average home crowd, had travelled south hoping to celebrate a first promotion in nine years.

If lucky omens were needed, there were several to fall back on; the Millers had never lost to Dagenham, their fans had been allocated the same end of the stadium as Blackpool, Millwall, and Oxford United (play-off final winners over the last few weeks) and victory over Aldershot had ended an unwanted 11-year cycle of play-off semi-final defeats which involved losses to Swansea City, in 1988, and Leyton Orient, in 1999.

With a record of six clean sheets in the previous seven games, the foundations for the Millers' play-off qualification had undoubtedly been laid at the back.

Goalkeeper Andy Warrington again proved his worth with two world-class saves before the break but it was the Daggers who had the last laugh.

Romain Vincelot's spectacular overhead kick was heading towards the net at a fair pace when Warrington dived to his right and blocked with an outstretched arm. It still needed a clearance on the line from captain Ian Sharps to stop Paul Benson poking home the rebound.

Moments later Warrington saved the Millers again, this time diving low to his right to keep out a free-kick from Danny Green that had found a gap in the wall.

Dagenham's pressure paid off six minutes before the break when Damien McRory's cross found Benson with enough space in the area to turn and curl a shot beyond Warrington's reach.

It was the striker's 80th goal in four seasons for the Daggers and might easily have been a knife through the Millers' heart if they had not hit back immediately.

Amazingly, it took the Millers just 20 seconds to get back on level terms and rarely can agony have turned to ecstasy so quickly.

Mills punted the ball upfield from the re-start and it was put into touch for a throw by a Dagenham defender. Gavin Gunning threw the ball into Kevin Ellison's path and his cross was headed in at the near post by Ryan Taylor.

Only three weeks ago, Taylor was playing on loan for Exeter City, helping the League One club avoid relegation after slipping down the pecking order at his hometown club.

He had not scored for over 12 months but had returned from St James's Park with renewed confidence and forced his way back into the Rotherham side. Unlucky not to score with a header when the score was goalless, Taylor ended up with two.

The drama intensified after the break. Dagenham regained the lead as Green beat Warrington with a low drive.

The advantage lasted just six minutes, however, before Taylor struck again to level the scores.

Winger Nicky Law, who thrived in the wide open spaces of Wembley, set the goal up by pulling the ball back from the right touchline. Taylor pulled off his marker before controlling and shooting low past Tony Roberts and was subsequently booked for removing his shirt in celebration.

The score stayed at 2-2 for just four minutes before Dagenham took the lead for the third time in the afternoon.

Defending a corner, Sharps failed to clear properly and the ball fell to the unmarked Jon Nurse whose low drive was deflected past Warrington by Ellison.

As the minutes began to run out, there would be no salvation. Not even from 30-goal striker Le Fondre who was virtually anonymous all afternoon.

Substitute Marcus Marshall sent a looping header wide but Dagenham might have scored again when Warrington flapped at a cross; however, Benson turned the ball wide of a near-empty net.

Rotherham's heartbroken players could only sink to their knees at the end, many of them probably knowing they will not be kept on next season.

At the opposite end of the field, there was pure joy. A club which has only been in business for 18 years is now looking forward to League One football.

Unfortunately for the Millers, that will have to wait at least another 12 months.