In an exciting semi-final against Oldham Athletic, the club qualified for the showpiece final at the Millennium Stadium thanks to a goal in the 82nd minute by Paul Furlong to win the semi-final tie 2-1 on aggregate.

The club took some 32,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium, to play the host city Cardiff, in the Division Two final. This game proved to be a highlight in the club's recent history, and although the team played excellently during the 120 minutes of play, ultimately lost to a goal in the 118th minute.

82nd minute winner

Although this was a bitter disappointment to all those connected to the club, it held out the hope that in the season 2003/2004 the club would once again mount a strong challenge for promotion.

The significant post-period event is that the club achieved promotion as runners-up of Nationwide Division Two, with a victory against Sheffield Wednesday on 8 May 2004.