Exeter City will be forced to spend another season in the Conference despite a last day win over battling Accrington Stanley.
Steve Flack's late header gave the Grecians the victory they needed, but results failed to go right elsewhere and they miss out on the play-offs.
It was a scrappy opening in which neither side was able to establish any dominance on the game.
But it always dangerous when Peter Cavanagh upended the lively Les Afful on the edge of the box in the tenth minute and Exeter made them pay dearly.
James Coppinger always looked confident as he stood over the ball and he made mistake with a curling strike around the wall and past the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper.
Exeter's bid to get into the play-offs was always dependent on resulting elsewhere going their way.
And there were plenty of radios being tuned in around the ground as a packed St James' Park attempted to take it all in.
Exeter's Santos Gaia might have done better when he connected with Kwame Ampadu's corner, but his header could only find the arms of the goalkeeper.
Accrington's best effort came from Paul Cook, who lashed a fine 25-yard strike narrowly over the bar.
But as the visitors continued to enjoy most of the possession, it came as no surprise when they pulled level in first-half injury-time.
Lutel James picked out Andrew Proctor with a neat pass and he made no mistake with a snap shot past the goalkeeper.
After the break it took Exeter just seven minutes to restore the lead.
Gareth Sheldon's fine corner was drifted into the box and Sean Canham rose superbly to head the ball powerfully into the back of the net.
But Accrington were level ten minutes later when the impressive Cook picked out Steve Flitcroft, who drilled the ball low past James Bittner.
With seven minutes left Exeter went ahead again. Flack rose superbly to meet Sheldon's fine cross and he headed the ball powerfully into the top corner.
But as results filtered in from around the country the celebrations were halted.