They gave their all - but in the end, it wasn't enough for Ipswich, who saw their Premiership dream slip away.

In one of the most exhilarating and exciting games ever seen at Portman Road, Ipswich played their hearts out only to have them broken on the away goals rule.

And Bolton also played their part in this classic. Seven goals, the crossbar skimmed and a penalty appeal turned away.

It was non-stop, total entertainment, played in front of a fantastic crowd who never stopped in their frenzied encouragement.

No team has hit three past Town at home this season but once the first went in for the Trotters the Blues knew they had a mountain to climb to get the required two goal gap.

The knees-up Ipswich performed as part of their pre-match warm-up gave a bizarre indication the game was going to be something special and everyone was going to give everything.

Ipswich reverted to the 4-4-2 which did so well against Sheffield United with Bobby Petta in for Manuel Thetis the only change from the first leg at the Reebok Stadium, while Bolton were unchanged.

Matt Holland got the early goal craved by Town and what a cracker it was after 14 minutes.

Fabian Wilnis started the move and James Scowcroft provided the through ball for Holland, who had sprinted from the half-way line to control at a stretch and expertly side-foot past the despairing Steve Banks to go in off the keeper's right hand post.

Ipswich had already been denied a penalty when David Johnson went down under a David Todd challenge in the area but referee John Kirkby ruled the defender had got a touch on the ball.

Petta skimmed the bar with a cross and Scowcroft was unable to head the ball back.

Going in at half time one up and level on aggregate, the belief was soaring with Ipswich bombarding Bolton, Holland in particular outstanding among a team playing to the highest standard.

The midfielder almost added a second straight from the re-start after his shot from a Scowcroft head down, dipped over the bar.

Moments later, Holland played a ball to Johnson who wriggled clear of Bolton skipper Mark Fish but his finish was woeful.

Scowcroft forced a full-stretch save from Banks as town kept up the pressure.

But the danger was always Bolton's rapier-like counters.

Jamaican World Cup winger Ricardo Gardner managed to escape Wilnis and crossed low for Eidur Gudjohnsen who brought out a fabulous point-blank save from England keeper Richard Wright.

But the ball went to the feet of the unmarked Bob Taylor who blasted in the vital away goal, on 51 minutes.

But the visiting crowd's cheers were still ringing when Kieron Dyer slammed home a tremendous low drive, in-off Bank's right-hand post.

And almost immediately from the re-start Dyer and Jim Magilton forced Banks to make good saves as Town went for the extra goal.

But six minutes from normal time, they were once more caught at the back when Todd headed down a Johansen corner and Per Frandsen's drive eluded Mowbray's dive and deflected off Holland's heel past a wrong-footed Wright.

Still the 20,000 plus Ipswich fans roared their heroes on though their season's end stared them in the face.

And in a season which has seen many twists and turns there was more to come.

With 20 seconds left before the final whistle Scowcroft laid the ball back for Wilnis who swung in a cross just inside the area.

Dyer skilfully guided his header to loop over Banks and squeeze under the cross bar.

It was a delightful goal, his first ever with his head, and sent the crowd into delirium.

Extra-time came and the brief respite during the break allowed Richard Naylor to come on for the ineffective Johnson.

All four stands in Portman Road continued to roar and Dyer was unlucky not to get something when he appeared to be pulled back as he was about to finish a wonderful move involving Scowcroft and Naylor.

But Bolton again countered with a superb goal.

Jensen played a long, low ball down the left flank, Gudjohnsen swept in a cross and Taylor expertly hit his shot low between Wright and a post to make it 3-3.

Town needed two goals in the next 24 minutes and Holland provided one.

He flicked up a ball 25 yards out and drove in along the ground to nestle into Banks' right-hand corner with four minutes left.

Right to the end Town ran and ran, the crowd cheered and cheered, but there were to be no more twists and the tears began as Mr Kirkby signalled the game was over and for the third year in a row Town had missed out on a Wembley final.

Bolton players rushed to their group of fans to celebrate. Town players plodded round for a deserved standing ovation.

They could give no more, it was all over.

Blues chairman David Sheepshanks consoling Matt Holland

(Right) Tony Mowbray muscles in on Bolton's Ricardo Gardner

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.