MK Dons 0 Scunthorpe United 0

SCUNTHORPE edged through to the League One play-off final after a nerveshredding penalty shoot-out victory over MK Dons.

Iron’s former Sunderland goalkeeper Joe Murphy saved two spot-kicks before ex- Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo thumped his side’s eighth penalty against the crossbar.

The result denied Robert Di Matteo, a three-time cup-winning goalscorer with Chelsea, a chance to return to Wembley.

Instead Scunthorpe, themselves Wembley losers in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Luton a month ago, have the chance to bounce straight back to the Championship when they face Millwall in the capital a week tomorrow.

Aaron Wilbraham should have broken the deadlock for the Dons in normal time, while Iron defender David Mirfin hit a post in extra-time.

But in truth these two sides could have played all night without finding the net.

When the inevitable penalties arrived, Scunthorpe skipper Cliff Byrne fired over only for Jason Puncheon to be denied by Murphy.

Matt Sparrow then hit the crossbar but Jude Stirling, given the chance to win it, fired straight at Murphy.

Lee Morris held his nerve for Scunthorpe and Flo blasted his effort against the bar to send the visitors through.

■ Newcastle Benfield won the Brookes Mileson skilltrainingltd Northern League Cup final last night.

Played at West Allotment, Benfield won 2-0 with goals from Ian Graham and Adam Scope.