Plymouth Argyle were crowned League One champions after coming from behind to win at Port Vale on the final day of the season.
James Plant gave Vale the perfect start when he raced through to fire past keeper Callum Burton in the third minute.
But homegrown midfielder Adam Randell restored parity with a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box before Joe Edwards fired the Pilgrims ahead four minutes later.
Substitute Finn Azaz made sure the title would head to Devon when his right-footed shot from the edge of the box nestled in the top corner.
The win meant Argyle ended the season on 101 points, three clear of Ipswich Town, who drew 2-2 at Fleetwood Town, to clinch a return to the Championship for the first time since 2010.
Vale end the season in 18th place, having won just three times since mid-January.
Argyle knew a victory would guarantee them the title, but they were caught napping as 18-year-old Plant got the wrong side of Bali Mumba, and beat the offside trap to race through and score his second goal in as many games.
Mumba almost made amends for his mistake 15 minutes later when his back-post header from Callum Wright’s cross rolled wide of the far post.
Randell levelled when a shanked clearance fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box and he showed great technique to keep his shot down.
Edwards’ goal soon after came after a lovely run down the right by Mumba, who threaded a ball through to Wright and his low cross from the right was fired home from six yards at the back post by the Pilgrims’ skipper to send the almost 4,000 travelling supporters into dreamland.
David Worrall had an effort saved by Burton shortly before half-time, and Argyle took control after the break.
Edwards had two great opportunities either side of a Mumba shot while at the other end Burton did well to parry Tom Conlon’s 54th-minute free-kick.
But Azaz made the win safe when he steered his effort home after Wright’s strong run towards the penalty area set him up.
Vale had a stoppage-time goal from Matt Taylor disallowed as the party for the travelling Green Army began.
A first title for Plymouth in 19 years
Argyle’s victory at Port Vale ends one of the most memorable seasons in the club’s history.
Their 101-point tally is the second-highest in club history – one point shy of the 102 they earned when winning what is now League Two in 2002.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher joked after last week’s win over Burton that he would get a tattoo if his side broke the 100-point mark despite being “dead against them”, although he did say it would be somewhere nobody could see.
This title is the first time the Pilgrims have won a league since 2004 when they also won the third tier.
The club’s history has featured more downs than ups since – they were last in the Championship in 2010 and went into administration the following year as back-to-back relegations hit a struggling Home Park.
But under former owner James Brent and current majority shareholder Simon Hallett the club has improved both on and off the field – they will hope this title can help encourage the players they need to establish themselves in the second tier.
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Stone
- 6Smith
- 5DonnellySubstituted forCassat 64′minutes
- 11Benning
- 29PlantSubstituted forShorrockat 79′minutes
- 14Ojo
- 10Conlon
- 7Worrall
- 19MasseySubstituted forProctorat 78′minutes
- 9WilsonSubstituted forTaylorat 64′minutes
- 26ButterworthSubstituted forPettat 57′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Cass
- 13Proctor
- 20Taylor
- 23Pett
- 25Stevens
- 31Shorrock
- 33Politic
Plymouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 25Burton
- 5Wilson
- 6Scarr
- 3Gillesphey
- 8Edwards
- 4Houghton
- 20Randell
- 17MumbaSubstituted forGrantat 84′minutes
- 26WrightSubstituted forMateteat 72′minutes
- 10MayorSubstituted forAzazat 45′minutesBooked at 81mins
- 11EnnisSubstituted forHardieat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Hardie
- 15Grant
- 16Cosgrove
- 18Azaz
- 21Lonwijk
- 28Matete
- 32Parkes
- Referee:
- Simon Mather
- Attendance:
- 11,998
Live Text
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Match ends, Port Vale 1, Plymouth Argyle 3.
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Second Half ends, Port Vale 1, Plymouth Argyle 3.
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Foul by Matty Taylor (Port Vale).
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Dan Scarr (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Funso Ojo (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Adam Randell (Plymouth Argyle).
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Attempt blocked. Jamie Proctor (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Malvind Benning.
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Tom Conlon (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jordan Houghton (Plymouth Argyle).
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Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Conor Grant replaces Bali Mumba.
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Foul by Funso Ojo (Port Vale).
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Jay Matete (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card.
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Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
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Attempt missed. Jamie Proctor (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Worrall with a cross.
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Substitution, Port Vale. Jack Shorrock replaces James Plant.
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Substitution, Port Vale. Jamie Proctor replaces Gavin Massey.
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James Plant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by James Wilson (Plymouth Argyle).
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James Plant (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.