The 2022 Papa Johns Trophy belongs to Rotherham United after a topsy-turvy 4-2 win over Sutton United at Wembley.
For much of the contest EFL debutants Sutton belied the 34 places between the two sides as they came close to a famous victory over the League One leaders. They led 2-1 going into stoppage time only for Rotherham to level and send the game to extra time. Chiedozie Ogbene then scored a superb goal for the Millers before Michael Ihiekwe's stooping header made sure of the win.
Sutton, experiencing their first-ever taste of this competition, took the lead on the half-hour mark when Donovan Wilson found enough space in the box to take a touch and pick his spot. Ben Wiles hit a spectacular long-range effort to level matters for Rotherham before the break. But Sutton skipper and former Arsenal man Craig Eastmond restored Sutton's lead just minutes after the restart when he reacted quickest in the area after his initial effort was charged down.
It looked like Sutton were going to hang on for a famous win but Rotherham sub Jordi Osei-Tutu, also on loan from Arsenal, popped up with a dramatic equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time to force an extra 30 minutes. The League One side's class then told as Ireland international Ogbene unleashed a superb long-range effort on 97 minutes before Ihiekwe's header on 112 minutes helped confirm a second win of this competition for Rotherham after success back in 1996.
Here, Mirror Football looks at five talking points to emerge from Wembley.
1. Millers' quality tells in the end
For large portions of this final, Rotherham were second-best. They had to come from behind not once, but twice and the second leveller was a result of going for broke late on in the game with seven minutes of stoppage time.
They were not as cohesive as they have been in the league this term, but the array of attacking talent shone through in the end. This is a side used to winning, with 24 victories in 39 league games this season. They kept plugging away against a plucky Sutton side and their persistence certainly paid off. Ogbene's wonder strike was worthy of winning most games and that, followed by Ihiekwe's nod, keeps Paul Warne's side on for a memorable double.
They are attempting to seal promotion and maintain a quite remarkable yo-yo existence in recent years. The Millers are top of League One with seven games left to play and look a good bet for an immediate return to the second tier. If that happens, it would be a sixth consecutive season in which they have switched between the Championship and League One. It is rarely dull in their particular corner of South Yorkshire with this game a microcosm of their recent fortunes.
2. Sutton still exceeding expectations
Just when you think Sutton United are done with smashing glass ceilings, they almost go and hammer through another one.
Their trajectory is quite remarkable having won the National League title last term. This year, rather than just settle for safety they have kicked on and are well in the conversation for a League Two play-off spot. Add in this superb run in the EFL Trophy, in their first-ever taste of the tournament, and you cannot help but be staggered by Sutton's rise in recent years.
And it is important to note that it is an ascension not built on pounds, shillings and pence but graft, commitment and a desire to improve.
Speaking to Mirror Football back in February, boss Matt Gray said: "We're not here to make up the numbers. We're looking to really establish ourselves as a League club. There's no ceiling on what we can do."
His side are certainly living up to that.
3. Long overdue Wembley trip nearly pays off
This represented the South Londoners’ fourth trip to the National Stadium, but their first in a whopping 41 years. That came back in 1981 when they lost 1-0 to Bishop's Stortford in the FA Trophy final.
And for so long it looked like that lengthy wait for their supporters was going to be worth it, but alas it wasn't to be. Nevertheless, this game and indeed their run to the final continues a fine association with knock-out football for Sutton. The club wrote its name into footballing folklore when in 1989 they sealed a famous FA Cup win over Coventry City, then in the top flight and cup winners two years prior. And again in 2017, when they beat Leeds United en-route to a last-16 meeting with Arsenal.
With seven league games still to play they could yet still end up back at the national stadium for next month's League Two play-off final.
4. Comics provide a slice of pre-match fun
The sight of Paul Chuckle riding on the back of a moped to deliver the ball before this final is one that you cannot quite forget once you've witnessed it!
The children's TV star, a huge Rotherham fan, having completed his brief journey on a Papa John's-sponsored bike was met pitchside by fellow comedian Tim Vine, who has been busy plugging his Sutton United cup final song "Rock Your Tambourine" this week. It was a tongue-in-cheek moment that offered a light-hearted take before the main action began.
5. Welcome return of fans
The EFL Trophy final, despite what some of its detractors might say, remains a jewel in the crown for the English Football League.
And so it would have been a welcome sight for the organisers to witness fans in attendance at the showpiece fixture for the first time in three years. The last two finals were played on consecutive days in 2021 behind closed doors and before that came a record-breaking crowd of more than 85,000 when Portsmouth faced Sunderland in 2019.
Granted, the latest contest was never going to come close to breaking that figure but there was still a more than healthy attendance of 30,668 that was a welcome sight for all.
