Source: Team_Talk
Adkins hails Iron man Woolford
The 23-year-old winger, who four years ago was playing at Northern Counties East outpost Glasshoughton Welfare, fired the Iron back into the Championship - a year after they were relegated - with the winner five minutes from the end of a thrilling clash at Wembley.
"We brought him in from York on a free in the summer, we saw the potential in him and he's a flair player," said Adkins.
"He's bided his time, got into the team and did ever so well.
"Kevan Hurst started the season on the left and we brought Martin to nurture him. He's bided his time, kept going, kept learning, worked hard and done very well for us."
Seven weeks ago Adkins' team were in tears on the Wembley turf after losing the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final to Luton by the same scoreline.
After that defeat, physio-turned-manager Adkins vowed to return to the national stadium and win the play-off final - and he was as good as his word.
"We got in a circle after that game and got rid of that horrible feeling, and we played some good football after that defeat and showed character yet again to stay in the race," he added.
"At the end of the day the fortune has favoured us in what was our 60th game of the season.
"We've assembled a group of players who will now have a chance to play in the Championship. It's a fantastic achievement to bounce straight back."
Scunthorpe went ahead in the sixth minute when Millwall keeper David Forde could only finger-tip Woolford's low drive into the path of Matt Sparrow, who slammed the ball into the roof of an empty net.
But Millwall, roared on by over 45,000 fans in the May sunshine, turned the match on its head with two goals in two minutes before the break from striker Gary Alexander.
The first was truly spectacular, Alexander controlling the ball on his chest 30 yards out, turning and smashing a dipping volley over Joe Murphy and into the net.
Moments later, he met Dave Martin's cross with a header which squirmed out of Murphy's grasp and over the line.
Wembley-born Sparrow, Scunthorpe's longest-serving player and in his testimonial year, fittingly dragged his side level with a cool finish from Woolford's cross in the 70th minute.
And boyhood Lions fan Alexander will be having sleepless nights for weeks after passing up a gilt-edged chance for a hat-trick, and the winner, when he headed Chris Hackett's cross wide from in front of goal.
Instead it was Woolford who stole the limelight, steering Scunthorpe to victory when he latched onto Sparrow's cross-shot and fired in a low drive which went under the body of Forde.
Even then, Lions legend Neil Harris had a chance to force extra time, but failed to add to his club-record tally of 117 goals when he curled his shot wide.
"It's a hard one to take," said Millwall manager Kenny Jackett, who saved the south Londoners from the drop to the basement division last season.
"There's no middle ground here - it's either elation or desperation. But we'll use that feeling to make sure we are doubly determined next season."
