Last action hero Connor Jennings clinched Tranmere's second consecutive promotion with a dramatic late winner to send Premier League ref Mike Dean into raptures again.
Dean, the first top-flight official to show 100 red cards, was caught on camera celebrating wildly after Rovers' semi-final win at Forest Green.
And he was letting it all hang out once more as Jennings popped up, a minute from the end of extra time, to head home Jake Caprice's right-wing cross to settle a desperately fraught League Two play-off final.
An error-strewn 'nipper' in the best traditions of play-offs tension was effectively a celebration of both clubs' escape from the doldrums.
Twelve months ago, Rovers had to play for 89 minutes with 10 men against Boreham Wood in the National League play-off final after Liam Ridehalgh's first-minute red card – and scrambled a miraculous 2-1 win.
Here, they mastered the art of brinkmanship again – and they had to work fiendishly hard to see off 10-man Newport.
Spare a thought for County, who are no strangers to last-gasp drama themselves. Two years ago, they were down to the last grains of sand in the hourglass when Mark O'Brien's stoppage-time winner against Notts County saved them from dipping out of the League.
Michael Flynn's kings of brinkmanship have since acquired a taste for Cup shocks, notably this season's third-round cull of Leicester .
And the Exiles' manager – whose fellow pupils on his Pro Licence coaching course in Wales included Arsenal legend Thierry Henry – has presided over a minor miracle on the banks of the River Usk.
But on warm summer afternoons, quality is often the first casualty of attrition at Wembley – and this was a slow burner like king of the jungle Harry Redknapp's camp fire.
After the churlish booing of both national anthems, Land Of My Fathers and God Save The Queen – grow up, you morons, it's only a football match – chances were few and far between.
James Norwood, the country's leading scorer in all competitions across all four divisions, stung Newport keeper Joe Day's palms with a crisp volley from Caprice's centre.
But if the first 45 minutes was a write-off like the old bangers at a stock car demolition derby, at least the drama was better late than never.
Rovers keeper Scott Davies somehow clawed Jamille Matt's close-range header against a post with 17 minutes left and Newport were convinced they should have had a late penalty when Emmanuel Monthe tripped Matt in the box.
Seconds after O'Brien was sent off for second bookable offence - a rugby tackle on Norwood – Rovers' prolific marksman, out of contract and probably making his last appearance for the club, should have won it in added time, stabbing a glorious chance wide.
And they had to wait until the last minute of the extra half-hour for Jennings to make his presence felt in the six-yard box when it mattered most.
