PROMOTED Cherries were pipped to the League One championship following a dramatic end to the last day of the season.

Eddie Howe’s men, who had the better of a 0-0 draw at Tranmere, were beaten to the title by Doncaster who netted in injury time to win 1-0 at Brentford.

The south Yorkshire outfit netted immediately after the Bees had missed a penalty and will join Cherries in the Championship next season.

Cherries had been hoping to put the finishing touches to one of the most memorable seasons in the club’s history by winning the silverware at Prenton Park.

Shaun MacDonald was drafted in for his first start for seven weeks, the midfielder replacing Eunan O’Kane who was ruled out due to injury.

It was the only change for Cherries who saw Brett Pitman slip and miss his kick when well placed after Harry Arter had stepped over a Charlie Daniels free-kick early on.

Cherries made an encouraging start with Tranmere’s debutant goalkeeper Jason Mooney pulling off a fine double save to deny Arter and Lewis Grabban after nine minutes.

The giant stopper got down to his right to push away Arter’s strike from the edge of the box before reacting quickly to smother from Grabban after he had looked to net the loose ball.

Although Cherries were tidy in possession and saw lots of the ball, chances were at a premium during the opening period, with Rovers failing to seriously trouble Ryan Allsop.

Arter went close to breaking the deadlock at the start of the second half, the midfielder seeing his fierce drive flash past the upright two minutes after the restart.

Andy Robinson seized on a poor clearance from Allsop after 55 minutes, although the Rovers captain’s wayward shot summed up the lack of threat from the hosts.

Cherries had a penalty appeal waved away after Marc Pugh’s effort had been charged down by Danny Holmes 11 minutes into the second half.

Pitman’s header from a Pugh cross found the grateful arms of Mooney before the Cherries wing man saw his rasping drive fly inches wide of the post.

Mooney scurried across his line to parry a low shot from Matt Ritchie before Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro poked an effort straight down Allsop’s throat.

Pitman’s 25-yard free-kick was gathered by Mooney before the Tranmere goalkeeper beat away a venomous curler from the Cherries striker.

As Cherries continued to probe, substitute Josh McQuoid lifted a presentable chance over the crossbar after latching on to a cross from Richard Hughes.

Steve Fletcher’s introduction as a 90th-minute substitute was greeted with rapturous applause from the 2,300 travelling supporters in the Cowshed.

Cherries: Allsop, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Fletcher, 90), MacDonald (Hughes, 73), Arter, Pugh, Grabban (McQuoid, 73), Pitman. Unused subs: Tubbs, Fogden, Seaborne, Jalal (g/k).

Rovers: Mooney, Holmes, Taylor, Gibson, Bakayogo, Palmer (Harrison, 79), Robinson (Bell-Baggie, 65), Power, Stockton, Sidibe (McGurk, 65), Akpa Akpro.

Unused subs: Goodison, Thompson, O’Halloran, Ramsbottom.

Attendance: 6,745 (including 2,300 visiting supporters).

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).