Mind you, Ryan had his 'dream' at the start of the season and, just two weeks ago, Rovers blew an opportunity to win automatic promotion by losing at Cheltenham.

But last night's demolition of Southend United proved beyond any doubt that Rovers have got that disappointment out of the system.

Rovers will now go to Wembley for the first time in their 129-year history to play Leeds for a place in next season's Championship.

Promotion is worth an estimated £5m to the winners but for Rovers, there is also the possibility of returning to the second tier of English football for the first time in 50 years. Just five years ago, they were playing in the Conference and Leeds were playing in European competition.

Now, there is virtually nothing to choose between the two clubs – as results in the two League games this season will testify.

Rovers winger James Coppinger stole the show last night with a stunning hat-trick after an early Brian Stock penalty and an own goal from Adam Barrett knocked the stuffing out of the Shrimpers.

Nick Bailey's late consolation goal would be no more than a minor irrelevance.

Having finished third in the League table, four points ahead of sixth-placed Southend, Rovers were always the more entitled to reach the play-off final.

But Southend had finished the season as the 'form side' in League One, losing only one of their last 15 games.

Manager Steve Tilson had stoked up his players after the goalless first leg by suggesting Rovers were taking a final place for granted. Sean O'Driscoll, the Rovers manager, rubbished any such suggestions.

O'Driscoll knows all about winning a play-off competition having led former club Bournemouth to victory over Lincoln in the League Two final five years ago. Coincidentally, it was same year that Rovers won promotion back to the Football League via a Conference play-off final victory.

Striker James Hayter made his first start since New Year's Day as a replacement for Paul Heffernan, who was banned after being sent off for violent conduct in the first leg at Roots Hall.

Midfielder Richie Wellens, who had missed the first leg with a hernia problem, also returned to the Rovers side at the expense of Lewis Guy.

Things started going right for O'Driscoll early on; a shocking miss by Southend striker James Walker after just eight minutes was swiftly followed by the penalty from which Rovers scored.

Walker should definitely have scored when he arrived at the far post to meet a low cross from Simon Francis but, somehow, the on-loan striker failed to keep his shot down and the ball bounced back off the bar.

If that sparked huge sighs of relief around three sides of the Keepmoat Stadium, the foul by Peter Clarke on striker Jason Price in the other area nearly raised the roof.

Clarke pushed Price over from behind as the pair tussled for a through ball and referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot.

Midfielder Stock, whose form this season has led to a call up for the Welsh squad, rolled the ball down the middle from the spot as goalkeeper Darry Flahavan dived to his right-hand post.

It soon got even better for Rovers as Southend defender Adam Barrett, under pressure from Price on the goalline, headed into his own net.

Although Barrett and Bailey both had shooting opportunities before the interval, Southend never threatened to get back into the game.

And when Coppinger struck Doncaster's third of the night six minutes before the break, it was all over bar the shouting.

Coppinger twisted between two defenders on the edge of the Southend box before firing a low shot inside the far post. As the Rovers players celebrated near a corner flag, the body language of the Southend players told its own story. Heads were being scratched, chins were planted on chests, and resignation had started to set in.

Rovers had found their top form again but Southend will forever wonder what might have happened if Walker had found the net rather than the bar.

After the disappointment of Cheltenham, this performance offered further proof that Rovers possess the quality to go up.

Coppinger scored his second of the night to make it 4-0 early in the second half; a stunning individual effort that highlighted both his ability to run at defenders and his eye for goal.

And he completed his hat-trick 11 minutes from time when curling a free-kick into the top corner before Bailey scored for Southend at the death.

Rovers supporters streamed onto the pitch at the final whistle, chants of 'Wembley, Wembley' echoed well into the night.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan; O'Connor, Mills, Hird, G.Roberts (Guy 68); Stock; Green, Wellens (McCammon 73); Coppinger; Price (Taylor 76), Hayter. Unused substitutes: Smith, Lee..

Southend United: Flahavan; Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew; Moussa, McCormack, Bailey, Gower; Barnard (Revell 63), Walker (MacDonald 63). Unused substitutes: Colliss, Liptak, Black.

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)