James Hayter's goal just 96 seconds into the second half ultimately settled the first all-Yorkshire play-off final in favour of the team from the south of the county.

But it will be the 15-point penalty imposed on the eve of the season by the Football League that those whose devotion lies at Elland Road will regard bitterly as the reason why Leeds will kick off next season still in League One.

Without that sanction for failing to follow the League's policy on insolvency when exiting administration, Gary McAllister's side would have finished the regular season just a point behind champions Swansea City and spent the past three weeks on a beach reflecting on a job well done.

As it is, all they have to show for what has been a year of having to continually battle against the odds is heartache and a sense of injustice that their often Herculean efforts have not brought the deserved reward.

Not that anyone sporting the red and white of Doncaster will care a jot about that this morning with their team destined for the Championship thanks to Hayter's first goal in more than four months.

Rovers' promotion proves that dreams really do come true in football, chairman John Ryan having told the Yorkshire Post several months ago of his premonition that his club would meet Leeds in the play-off final at Wembley. And that they would win.

McAllister admitted afterwards that the better side on the day had triumphed and it was difficult to argue with his assessment.

Sean O'Driscoll's men started better than Leeds with their measured passing game being combined with a high tempo to great effect.

They could – and but for the alert reactions of United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren would – have been two or even three goals ahead by the midway point of the first half.

As it was, they had to wait until the opening stages of the second period to gain their reward when Hayter intelligently timed his run to perfection to meet Brian Stock's corner and power a header past Ankergren.

Leeds huffed and puffed after that in an attempt to get back into the game and dominated possession.

However, a general lack of a cutting edge up front and composure in the final third meant that Neil Sullivan was rarely worried in the Rovers goal until Jonathan Douglas drove just inches wide of the target with five minutes remaining.

Promotion is a just reward for Rovers who, but for a shock defeat at Cheltenham Town on the final day of the regular season, would have gone up automatically.

They play a refreshing brand of football that is both effective and pleasing on the eye and there can be little doubt that Doncaster will be a welcome addition to the Championship next season. It is to be hoped, however, that many of those who travelled to Wembley yesterday can be tempted to the Keepmoat Stadium on a more regular basis.

As for Leeds, the summer break will provide McAllister with the chance to really stamp his mark on a squad that he inherited from Dennis Wise. Subtle changes to the style of play have already been made with the direct approach favoured by his predecessor having been largely jettisoned in recent weeks.

But it is clear more alterations will follow as McAllister puts together a team whose intention will be to go one better next term.

The United manager has already taken steps to improve the balance in midfield with the signing of Swansea winger Andy Robinson at last bringing some much-needed width to a squad top heavy with central midfielders.

That lack of width was undoubtedly a factor in yesterday's defeat with Doncaster winning the midfield battle in the early stages.

It took just seven minutes for O'Driscoll's men to fashion the first genuine opening when Paul Green ghosted past Douglas before pulling the ball back for Jason Price whose shot was blocked by Paul Huntington.

Slick passing then allowed Doncaster to open up Leeds three times in quick succession, meaning Ankergren had to race from his line on each occasion to avert the danger.

At this stage, it seemed more a case of when Rovers would score rather than if but, gradually, Leeds fought their way back into the game and came within a whisker of grabbing the opening goal just a minute before the break when Jonny Howson curled a shot just inches past the post from the edge of the area.

If United thought this would signal a change of fortune after the restart, they were wrong with it taking less than two minutes for Rovers to grab what would prove to be the only goal courtesy of Hayter.

It was enough to book Doncaster's place in next season's Championship and ensure the most traumatic of seasons for Leeds ended in stomach-churning disappointment.