off a miraculous victory in the European Cup final against Bayern Munich, Shawn Goater's Manchester City engineered another Great Escape yesterday to win promotion to the English First Division.

And Bermudian Goater had a big hand in the victory, setting up his team's first goal which was quickly followed by a second, taking the Wembley play-off final against Gillingham into extra-time.

City then went on to win 3-1 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Goater and his team-mates had seem destined for another season in the Second Division as they trailed 2-0 in regulation time with just one minute remaining.

City, who nosedived from the Premier League to the Second Division with relegations in 1996 and 1998, looked doomed after an 81st-minute goal from Gillingham's Carl Asaba and one from Robert Taylor five minutes later.

But they struck back with 89 minutes on the clock when Kevin Horlock shot home from close range after Goater had his shot blocked.

Deep into injury-time of a match played in driving rain Paul Dickov blasted a goal high into the roof of the net to give City an astonishing reprieve.

There were no further goals in extra-time and young goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was then City's hero in the penalty shoot-out, saving from Paul Smith and finally Guy Butters to ensure the club's promotion.

They go up along with champions Fulham and runners-up Walsall who won automatic promotion.

City manager Joe Royle, whose last visit to Wembley was as Everton's boss when they beat Manchester United in the 1985 FA Cup final, said: "It did look bleak with five minutes to go but the players dug in and just kept going and it paid off.'' City's fans have stayed steadfastly loyal to their team despite their recent failures, with the average home attendance at Maine Road over 28,000.

After a delirious lap of honour, the City players bowed down on the pitch and saluted the fans.

Gillingham had been bidding to reach the First Division for the first time in their 106-year history.

The English play-off series ends today when Watford play Bolton for the right to win promotion to the Premier League. Scunthorpe United beat Leyton Orient 1-0 in the Third Division play-off on Saturday.

Jubilation: Shawn Goater (second from right) joins his Manchester City team-mates in congratulating goalkeeper Nicky Weaver (second left) whose penalty shoot-out saves ensured victory in yesterday's Second Division play-off final against Gillingham at Wembley.