By Press Officer Phil Adlam

I witnessed first hand the pain and the glory of the play-off's on Saturday as I and other club officials watched the Coca-Cola League Two final at the New Wembley between Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury Town.

The play-offs have always provoked much debate since their introduction in 1987, but what they do give is an exciting end to the domestic season. Of course, as Milton Keynes Dons found to their cost this season, you don't have to be the best in the division to claim success.

The Dons finished fourth in League Two, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion and were forced to go through the lottery of the play-off system - where they faced Shrewsbury who they finished 13 points ahead of. In the two games, the Dons ended up losing and missed out on a trip to Wembley.

Is it time to change the play off system? In League Two, should the team who finish fourth automatically go through to the showpiece final with the other three teams battling it out (sixth v seventh and winner vs fifth) or does that over complicate matters? It just seems harsh when money matters - especially in the Championship where promotion to the Premier League is worth a reported £50 million.

And then there is the final itself. As I watched from the stands at Wembley it was apparent from the first whistle that losing was just not an option. Having toiled away for 46 matches, it all came down to 90 minutes of action for the Pirates of Bristol and the determined Shrews from Gay Meadow.

With 40,000 Rovers fans cheering their team on and just over half of that figure from Shropshire, the atmosphere inside Wembley was electric - much more vocal than in the drab FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. The noise level was tremendous and the acoustics in the new stadium are certainly impressive and to be honest, there is nothing much that isn't impressive at the new national arena.

From the outside, the ground with it's well-documented arch looks superb and the statue of former England legend Bobby Moore is well structured and located in the perfect position - in full view for the thousands of fans that descend on the stadium.

Inside, the function rooms are fantastic and the corporate facilities are second to none and once you enter the arena you certainly get the tingle of excitement and nervousness, which is difficult to comprehend for someone who had no real allegiance to either side in action.

After the uplifting pre-match build-up and the rousing national anthem, the biggest game in Shrewsbury and Bristol Rovers season got underway and it was a fast-paced open start to the game. Gary Peters' Shrewsbury side took an early lead to the shock of the Rovers fans with Stuart Drummond heading home a well-delivered free-kick.

Rovers' striker Richard Walker equalised from close-range and then superbly chipped the Pirates in front before the interval and the Shrews had it all to do. During the half-time interval, it was time for both sets of supporters to get their breaths back as they prepared for the final half of action of the season.

Shrewsbury battled gamely and Derek Asamoah tormented the Rovers back-line in wide areas, but they were lacking a Richard Walker as boss Gary Peters admitted afterwards. He was the difference between the sides and is out of contract at the end of the season and after a performance like I witnessed, there will not be a short queue of clubs after his services.

Rovers wrapped it up in bizarre fashion in stoppage time as the Shrews goalkeeper went forward for a corner only to see the ball cleared to Sammy Igoe who raced half the length of the pitch to slot the ball into the gaping goal to the deafening roar of the Rovers fans.

As the ball rolled over the line you could see the devastation on the Shrewsbury players with at least six falling to their knees in disappointment. There were tears shed I am sure both on and off the pitch at that moment and while the Rovers squad and fans celebrated at the final whistle, you had to spare a thought for the opposition.

In the play-offs, you don't get the chance to climb the famous Wembley steps (and there is plenty of them nowadays), you don't receive a medal and the spotlight is nowhere near you. It is all about the winners, yes Wembley is a day out to remember, but you are always quick to forget when you are not victorious.

For Shrewsbury, life at their new ground will begin in League Two while ironically Rovers, who have League One status will begin 2008 sharing with either Cheltenham Town or Swindon Town while their own stadium is completed.

As Peterborough United prepare for the new campaign under Darren Ferguson, fans witnessing the finals over this weekend will be praying that the promotion is secured automatically rather than through the roller-coaster route of the play-offs.