At Wembley, Port Vale sealed their return to League One with a crushing victory over 10-man Mansfield Town.
Two headed goals in four astonishing first-half minutes from 19-year-old Kian Harratt and James Wilson had the Valiant support in euphoric voice in their first trip to Wembley for 26 years.
The task was made more difficult by the dismissal of Oliver Hawkins, who collected two yellow cards for needless challenges on Nathan Smith and Wilson.
The Stags were denied a way back into the game by a clearance byConnor Hall.
That was as close as they would get as Darrell Clarke, the Port Vale manager who took time away following a family bereavement, capped an emotional season in glorious fashion.
Mal Benning, who made more than 250 appearances for Mansfield before joining Port Vale last summer, completed an amazing performance.
Jamie Murphy had a chance to open the scoring for Port Vale after a defensive mix-up, but he was denied from point-blank range by Aidan Stone.
It was a costly miss for the Stags, who were hoping to return to the third tier for the first time in 19 years.
After crashing a shot off the foot of the post, Harratt put the side ahead in the 20th minute with a brilliant diving headed goal.
After 24 promotion-defining minutes, Wilson nodded home Ben Garrity's looping headed off the bar, sparking wild celebrations.
The Stags were dealt a heavy blow 11 minutes later when Hawkins was sent off for a reckless tackle on Wilson.
Stones failed to control a free-kick from Stephen McLaughlin, allowing the Stags a glimpse of a comeback, as he squeezed a close-range shot underneath the goalkeeper, but Hall got back to clear off the line.
After the break, Port Vale had the ball in the back of the net twice more, but Harratt and Charsley both had their efforts waved away.
Those calls meant the Stags remained a threat, and it took a great save from Stone to keep Oates out at the other end, before Benning's fine volleyed finish against his former side underscored an emphatic win.
The victory against the club where he started his playing career brought an end to a difficult campaign for Port Vale boss.
He led Vale onto the Wembley pitch in what was his 11th game since returning from compassionate leave.
Before the game, the Valiants would try to keep emotion out of the game.
That was a challenge, with fans of the opposing team holding a minute of applause for their manager.
It was a show of solidarity that Port Vale fans took up in the eighth minute as the atmosphere at the national stadium hit an early peak.
The stadium was buzzing after Stone saved Murphy and Harratt from the post, and Port Vale scored two quick goals to go back to League One.
There would be no celebration for the Stags at the ground where Brian led the Forest to four League Cup final wins.
In his programme notes, the boss said that his side would be at the national stadium, despite being in the bottom half of the table.
The Stags had a club-record 11 consecutive home league wins between October and April, which catapulted them to a promotion bid.
They had to settle for a seventh-place finish in the promotion race, despite being in the running until the final day.
They saw off Northampton with home and away wins in their two-legged semi-final, but their rise from the bottom of the table to Wembley would not take them to League One.
It was not a storybook end to the season for defender James Perch, who was the captain of the team just nine months after fracturing his skull.
Formation 4-3-1-2.
4Hewitt14Perch12Hawkins3McLaughlin44M Longstaff35O'Toole16QuinnFormation 3-4-1-2.
7Worrall23Pett17Taylor11BenningThe match ended with Port Vale 3.
The second half ended with Port Vale 3.
The attempt was blocked. Stephen McLaughlin's shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by John-Joe O'Toole.
Tom Pett won a free kick in the defensive half.
There is a substitution in Port Vale. David Worrall was replaced by Aaron Martin.
Goal! Port Vale 3, Mansfield Town 0. Malvind Benning shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. David Worrall assisted with a cross.
Lucas Akins of Mansfield Town had a foul.
James Wilson won a free kick in the defensive half.
There is a substitution for Mansfield Town. Lucas Akins is the new person.
Foul by George Lapslie.
Tom Pett won a free kick in the defensive half.
There is a corner in the town. They had a Conceded byConnor Hall.
There is a substitution in Port Vale. Kian Harratt was replaced by Jamie Proctor.
An attempt was missed. The shot from outside the box was close, but misses to the left. Stephen Quinn was assisted by him.
There is a corner in the town. Conceded by Aidan Stone.
The attempt was saved. The left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. George Lapslie assisted.
George Lapslie won a free kick in the attacking half.
James Gibbons had a foul.
Port Vale. Malvind Benning tried a through ball, but Harry Charsley caught it.
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