Crewe Alexandra youngster Nick Powell scored a wonder goal at Wembley to help his side win promotion to League One.
His effort after 15 minutes was followed by an 80th minute strike from Byron Moore in front of 24,000 fans at Wembley stadium, although Cheltenham may well be wondering how they failed to score in a contest which at times they dominated.
Cheltenham had never before been beaten in the play-offs having won promotion from League Two in both 2002 and 2006, while Crewe are unbeaten in their last 18 games.
Powell opened the scoring with a wonderful goal that will only strengthen rumours of a move to the Premier League for the England under 18s star.
Having received the ball on the edge of the area, he flicked it up with his instep, swivelled and volleyed into the top corner leaving Scott Brown with no chance.
Moments later, Powell s stunner was almost matched by Cheltenham forward Jeff Goulding who let fly from 35 yards out, only to see his effort come crashing back off the crossbar.
That effort seemed to spark the Mark Yeats’ men into life, and they thought they had levelled when Goulding got on the end of a flicked-on goal kick, however his effort was ruled out for offside.
Yeats men should have been level just before the break when Kaid Mohammad missed a glorious chance to level the contest, as he lashed an effort over from the edge of the six-yard box, following a corner.
And in first-half stoppage time, Crewe had to clear two efforts of the line in the space of a minute, as Cheltenham piled on the pressure but they were unable to get the goal that their chances deserved.
The Robins came out after the break much the same as they did before the interval and forced Phillips into several good saves.
Mohammad missed another wonderful opportunity when he capitalised on an error by Adam Dugdale but Phillips was able to smother his effort.
The Robins were unable to take their chances, and in the 80th minute Crewe doubled their lead and with it booked their place in League One for next season.
Ajay Leitch-Smith drove into the Cheltenham area and slid a ball across to Moore who coolly slotted the ball into the far corner.
The result means Crewe will be playing in the third tier for the first time since 2009, while Cheltenham face a fourth consecutive season in the basement division.
