SECONDS AWAY FROM PROMOTION on the last day of the regular season, Grimsby Town find themselves at least a season away now. They lost to a lucky goal yesterday and will have to endure the pain of knowing that they played below par.

Cheltenham Town were impressive and confident and this was the second time that they have won the basement division’s play-off final in the seven years since they arrived from non-league. John Ward, the manager, had taken inspiration from the unexpected achievement of Watford, his former club, at the Millennium Stadium seven days earlier. “We are the underdogs,” Ward said after this win, correcting himself: “We were”.

With a budget and average attendance placing them in the bottom third of Coca-Cola League Two, they will be underdogs again next season. Ward joked that the club will have to “rent a crowd” for the open-top bus parade today in a sedate town where racing rules.

Wembley’s completion permitting, the play-offs said goodbye to Cardiff with a decent game settled by a goal 20 minutes into the second half. Grimsby botched a clearance and Steve Guinan curled a cross in from the right. It evaded everyone and nestled in the net — the softest of goals, the harshest of consequences.

It was a new highlight for Guinan, who once played against Arsenal as a substitute for Nottingham Forest. If he can agree a new deal, he will face Forest next season in League One. The contract of Russell Slade, the Grimsby manager, expires on Wednesday but he hopes to stay.

Cheltenham, who missed two one-on-ones early in the first half and were lucky not to concede a penalty when Gavin Caines appeared to trip Andy Parkinson, might have doubled their lead from the spot in the second half. Grant McCann rounded Steve Mildenhall, the Grimsby goalkeeper, and was about to score when Curtis Woodhouse felled him.

It was just a light jab from Woodhouse, once bought by Birmingham City for £1million, who now retires to become a boxer. He was not even booked for it and Mildenhall saved McCann’s penalty. McCann hit the crossbar in the next attack.

The knockout blow had already been delivered in the first period when Michael Reddy, Grimsby’s leading scorer in the league, was knocked unconscious in a challenge with Craig Armstrong, who was also substituted.

After the goal, Grimsby redoubled their efforts and Shane Higgs saved well from Gary Jones as the West Country side clung on. Cue the Cheltenham festival, with Grimsby left feeling like Devon Loch.

Cheltenham Town (4-4-2): S Higgs 8 — J Gill 7, S Duff 7, G Caines 7, C Armstrong 7 (sub: M Bell, 27min 6) — A Vincent 6 (sub: D Spencer, 78), J Finnigan 7, G McCann 7, B Wilson 7 — S Gillespie 7 (sub: K Odejayi, 62 5), S Guinan 7. Substitutes not used: S Brown, D Bird Booked: Spencer

Grimsby Town (4-4-2): S Mildenhall 7 — G Croft 6 (sub: B Futcher, 75), J Whittle 6, R Jones 5, T Newey 6 — J Mendes 6 (sub: M Goodfellow, 84), P Bolland 6, C Woodhouse 5, A Parkinson 5 — M Reddy 5 (sub: G Cohen, 27 6), G Jones 6. Substitutes not used: J-P Kamudimba, C Toner. Booked: Woodhouse.

Referee: P Taylor 8