Cheltenham Town 0 Shrewsbury Town 1

Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro clinched promotion for the Shrews before leading the tributes to boss Micky Mellon.

Former Toulouse striker Akpa Akpro, 30, called his deflected winner "the best goal of my career" before adding:

"The gaffer is one of the best managers I have worked with. He makes everything easy to understand - until he gets angry and then I find his Scottish accent difficult.

"The organisation of the team is down to Micky and his staff. He's the most honest manager I've had in my career and that's important to a player."

Akpa Akpro's goal dumped Cheltenham out of the football league and he revealed he felt for them as he celebrated with his teammates. He revealed:

"I was trying to enjoy it, but you also have to respect them. I know how they are feeling as I was relegated with Tranmere last season. It's horrible for them, but we'll be at home next week when the real party can begin."

Keeper Jayson Leutwiler, 26,  claimed a 23rd clean sheet of the season and also praised Mellon. He said:

"It's so simple playing for him. Black is black and white is white, there's no grey. You know that you will always get the truth from him so you aren't left wondering what he really means. He's a very honest man."

Central defender Mark Ellis, 26, set up Akpa Akpro's clincher and revealed Mellon's growing reputation convinced him to sign for the Shrews last summer before they had even met. He said:

"I'd never come across Micky before, but knew all about him so didn't think I needed to meet him before I signed the contract."

And Ellis now hopes to beat his boyhood heroes next week to win a League winners medal. He revealed:

"We've got Plymouth. I supported as a kid and always will do, but we've got a job to do next week and I'll make sure we do it"

Delighted Mellon also turned his thoughts to the final game and said:

"We're going to have a big Scottish promotion party and then we go into next week’s home game trying to give it our best shot at winning the title. Let’s go for it! Let’s just go for it and give it everything we’ve got with a fantastic promotion under our belts already."

Cheltenham dropped out of the league after a sixteen year stay despite bringing in Gary Johnson as their fourth manager of the season six games ago.

Furious fans hurled abuse at the Robins players and called them "bottlers" and "cowards" as they left the ground and Johnson also questioned the professionalism of some of them. He said:

"There's a fitness level that professionals have to maintain. They have to live like professionals and act like professionals - some of them found it very hard to do that.

"Hopefully the club's strong enough to come back quickly because it's got a good academy and it's got some good youngsters who wouldn't be ready this year, but I'm sure will be ready next year."