Shrewsbury get second - Report and pictures

Micky Mellon's side, who secured promotion into League One by beating Cheltenham last weekend, had needed to win at Greenhous Meadow and hope Burton failed to win at Cambridge.

But Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side registered a 3-2 win at the Abbey Stadium, meaning Town finish the season second in the table.

Despite today's defeat, jubilant Town fans ran onto the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate their hugely deserved promotion – achieved in Mellon's first season as boss.

In naming his starting line-up, Mellon unsurprisingly kept faith with the team that secured promotion by beating Cheltenham last weekend.

It meant James Collins and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro continued their partnership upfront, while Bobby Grant started in midfield for potentially the final time in Town colours, with his loan now expired.

Having clearly not read the script, Plymouth came flying out of the traps and took the lead inside the opening two minutes.

Kelvin Mellor jinked his way down the right flank and delivered a wonderful teasing cross, which Bobby Reid tapped home from inside the six-yard-box.

Shocked at finding themselves behind, Town began to press forward with Grant's low ball into the box almost being stabbed home first by Collins and then Connor Goldson.

But as the clock ticked towards the 10 minute mark, the away side should have doubled their advantage.

Zak Ansah danced his way past two challenges in the Town box and flashed the ball across goal, with the on-rushing Anthony O'Connor just unable to get a touch and poke it into the net.

Town thought they had pulled level moments later when Grant's ball forward found Akpa Akpro - the French striker taking the ball into the box before brilliantly firing a half-volley into the bottom corner.

But with the Greenhous Meadow faithful jumping for joy, the linesman raised his flag with the forward ruled offside.

Despite Town now seeing more of the ball, it was Plymouth who were enjoying the greater attacking threat.

Reid again showed twinkle toes to earn himself space in the box, before seeing a shot deflected over the goal.

Mellon was forced into a change on the half-hour mark, with defender Cameron Gayle appearing to pick up an injury.

Scott Vernon was the man introduced as Town shifted to a midfield diamond with Vernon at the tip, Grant and Liam Lawrence in the middle and Woods at the base.

With their new system, Town went in search of an equaliser but it was Argyle who doubled their advantage just before the break.

Kelvin Mellor collected the ball and waltzed into the Town box, before brushing off a challenge from Woods and poking the ball home past goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

It was a goal completely out of character for Shrewsbury to concede, with Mellor taking the ball into the box far too easily.

With boss Mellon ringing in their ears, Town made a blistering start to the second half and should have been awarded an early penalty.

Lawrence worked the ball to Collins in the box with the striker turning away from a defender before clearly being tripped.

Unbelievably, referee Darren Bond watched Town's appeals and waved play on.

With Greenhous Meadow lifted, Town seized control and they came close to pulling a goal back when Lawrence's deep cross was met in the air by Grant.

Sadly for Salop, the midfielder connected with the ball too well with his powerful header straight at Luke McCormick in the Plymouth goal.

Shrewsbury were now camping deep in Argyle territory, with Woods coming a whisker away from grabbing his first goal of the season.

The creative schemer danced his way to the edge of the box before seeing his strike with the outside of the right boot tipped around the post.

Boss Mellon made his second change just after the hour mark with Tyrone Barnett coming on for Mark Ellis – Town now having four strikers on the field.

Collins made way shortly after for fellow frontman Andy Mangan.

With news filtering around the ground that Burton were losing at Cambridge, Town needed three goals in 18 minutes to win the league.

And a quick break on the counter should have seen Barnett put in the clear but Vernon's through-ball was too strong, allowing McCormick to claim.

Town continued to push forward with a Demetriou cross headed towards goal – McCormick managing to nip in and grab the ball just before Mangan could tap it home.

But with the three minutes remaining the away side almost grabbed a third, with Tyler Harvey's free-kick from 25-yards spectacularly tipped over the bar by a diving Leutwiler.

With the title out of reach, Town's fans began gathering in anticipation of a pitch invasion with the police forced to encroach onto the pitch to keep them at bay.

And after three minutes of stoppage time, the vast majority of the 10,000 strong crowd ran onto the field to celebrate Town's historic promotion back into League One.