Southend's promotion dream ended after they were comprehensively beaten 5-1 at Doncaster Rovers in the second leg of their play-off semi final.
The Blues had high hopes of earning a trip to Wembley following their goalless draw at Roots Hall a week earlier, but despite applying the early pressure, there could be no complaints that the better side had won.
Backed by magnificent support throughout the whole 90 minutes, Southend should have taken the lead as early as the eighth minute following a flowing counter attack down the right flank.
Simon Francis delivered a brilliant cross from the right to find James Walker in acres of space at the far post, but from little more than a few yards out, he crashed his effort on to the crossbar.
Such a missed opportunity raised in significance just three minutes later when Doncaster were awarded a penalty after Peter Clarke was harshly adjudged to have fouled Jason Price in the box.
Brian Stock stepped up to send the ball straight down the middle and past Darryl Flahavan to put the hosts into the ascendancy.
Flahavan then had to spread himself to deny Price marauding through on goal with a top draw save, but Southend were soon left with a mountain to climb when Doncaster increased their lead in the 20th minute.
Paul Green met a cross from the right wing to direct the ball across goal, where Price stole a march on the backtracking defence to head over the line.
Clarke fizzed a powerful shot straight at goalkeeper Neil Sullivan before Nicky Bailey arrowed narrowly over the top from an acute angle in the Blues' best spell of pressure.
Unfortunately, Doncaster showed the killer touch in front of goal to score for a third time, as James Coppinger dribbled his way beyond a series of challenges before coolly slotting the ball beyond the despairing dive of Flahavan and into the far corner.
There was a familiar sense of déjà vu just seven minutes into the second half when Coppinger again went on a mazy run and created enough space between the defence to let fly with another brilliant strike past Flahavan.
In truth, Southend simply had no answer, as Doncaster continued to pile forward, with Stock hitting a strike from distance inches wide of the left-hand post.
Captain Barrett nearly grabbed a consolation goal with a long range strike that was met by the hand of Sullivan, who tipped the ball over.
Yet Coppinger sealed his hat trick 10 minutes from time when he collected a free kick on the edge of the box and looped the ball straight over Flahavan into the top of the net.
Southend did work their way on to the scoresheet with Nicky Bailey turning the ball in from close range just two minutes from time for his 12th goal of the campaign.
There was a great unison between the supporters at the end, but it is Doncaster who will now face-off against Leeds in the final with Southend left to ponder on what could have been.
Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Moussa, McCormack, Bailey, Gower, Walker (MacDonald 62), Barnard (Revell 62).
Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts (Guy 69), Coppinger, Stock, Green, Wellens (McCammon 73), Price (Taylor 76), Hayter.
