Hednesford Town sealed back-to-back promotions in dramatic style, earning a second consecutive promotion with a penalty shootout play-off success over Warrington Rylands.
It was almost Northern Premier Division play-off heartache for the Pitmen, who needed a 90th-minute equaliser by defender George Williams to force extra time and then spot-kicks.
Skipper Joe Doyle-Charles fittingly lifted in the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout success before most of a sold-out 4,000 Keys Park crowd flooded on to the field. Rylands' George Waring found the woodwork with his side's fifth kick.
Underdogs Rylands, who finished 10 places below runners-up Town, looked set to rip up the script through defender Clive Smith's second-half header.
But Kelvin Davis' hosts ensured the hosts will return to step two and National League North football after 10 years away after back-to-back play-off delight under the ambitious ownership of Craig and Amanda Gwilt.
It proved the perfect tonic after Hednesford were forced to the agony of the play-offs after being pipped to the title by Hebburn Town.
It was a winning end to Davis' first few months at the helm after the former top-flight goalkeeper succeeded Gavin Hurren in February.
A wonderful backdrop greeted the sides, though there threatened to be a very early pin in the Pitmen balloon. Rylands' Alex Kiwomya raced over the top inside 20 seconds to beat goalkeeper Tony Breeden to the ball, but the attacker could not work the correct contact.
Breeden was stretched to keep out a Charlie Munro 25-yard strike with a flying tip over.
It took Davis' hosts 20 minutes for an effort of drop as striker Montel Gibson's awkward header dropped just wide.
Home supporters thought they had an opener after half hour but top scorer Ahkeem Rose could not grow enough to nod into a gaping net to convert Gibson's nod across goal from a Chris Hussey free-kick.
The Pitmen's dominance grew and away keeper Luke Pilling kept hold from Gibson's drive from range. Rose then swept over from outside the box seconds later in an otherwise tense low-key first period.
Warrington livewire Kiwomya was too quick for big defender Ollie Harrison as a deflected dribbled across the six-yard box soon after the interval.
The resulting corner from the right punished a sloppy Hednesford. Skipper Ben Hardcastle's inswinger was met firmly by the forehead of right-back Smith, whose header gave Breeden no chance.
Restlessness descended on Keys Park as the hosts struggled to connect in the final third.
Hednesford were somehow denied an equaliser just after the hour by a stunning piece of defending by Matt Regan. Former Walsall man Liam Kinsella's quick free-kick released Gibson on the right side of the penalty area. His driven low strike across Pilling looked set to nestle before a recovering Regan somehow turned over his own crossbar with a dramatic slide.
Hednesford largely camped themselves into Rylands territory but frustration grew. Down the other end only heroics from Breeden kept the deficit at one, as the veteran keeper somehow got down to keep out another Smith header from a free-kick.
The Pitmen screamed for a penalty as the ball struck Regan's hand but referee Ethan Murray waved appeals away.
Hednesford struggled to carve open clear openings and sub Dom McHale lashed well wide from distance. Home appeared to have all-but vanished as the clock ticked to 90.
The hosts had screamed for a penalty appeal but it fell on deaf ears. The resulting corner led to another scramble, with Rylands unable to clear. When they did, home keeper Breeden tossed it back in and there was defender Williams to keep his composure amid the chaos with a left-footed low finish into the bottom right corner to force extra time.
It might have got better but McHale fierce shot fizzed wide.
A cagey first period of extra time delivered one huge chance as the lively McHale fed Gibson and Pilling made a top stop from 10 yards.
It was Rylands' turn to go close five minutes into the second period of extra time as sub Ben Hough lashed wildly over inside the box.
Pitmen substitute Jake Jervis had a header saved by Pilling. Hearts skipped a beat as a glanced Rylands' rattled the woodwork in stoppage time of extra time.
But scenes of celebration on the field after a nervy penalty shootout told a story as the Pitmen's ascendency up the football pyramid took another giant step.
Hednesford Town (4-4-2): Breeden; Morgan (McHale, 78), Harrison, Williams, Hussey; Sterling-James, Kinsella, Doyle-Charles (c), Hylton (Jervis, 67); Gibson (Trickett-Smith, 120), Rose (Wynter, 87). Subs not used: Sheaf.
Warrington Rylands: Pilling, Smith (Muyengwa, 109), Regan, Hall, Gamble, Caddick, Wood (Hough, 84), Munro, Waring, Kiwomya (Burton, 99), Hardcastle (c). Subs not used: Ascroft, Webster.
Attendance: 4,029. Referee: Ethan Murray.
