Salford City Reds stared down the barrel before they came up trumps in a remarkable Co-operative National League One Grand Final over 100 minutes in Warrington yesterday, prevailing 36-18 after extra time. Celtic Crusaders, the Bridgend club, who, along with Salford, have already been accepted into the engage Super League next season under the new licensing system, were 20 seconds from victory until they conceded a crucial penalty that led to extra-time.

The Crusaders had twice come from behind and were grimly hanging on to an 18-16 lead when Darren Mapp held down Richard Myler, the Salford scrum half, in a tackle. The forward's interference enabled the prolific John Wilshere to step up from 38 metres; his last kick of the 80 minutes sailing between the uprights and leaving a shaken Crusaders side to face an additional 20 minutes.

A reprieved Salford went on to secure the league title with quickfire tries by Ian Sibbit, who latched on to Robbie Paul's teasing kick, and Paul White's second touchdown on the left wing. Myler's late try gave a misleading impression in terms of the score, but as Shaun McRae, the Salford coach, said: “We've gone through every emotion, from an easy win to a tight one and being beaten. They just never went away.”

Those who have questioned the wisdom of the Crusaders' elevation to an expanded 14-team Super League in 2009 were ready to reassess their opinion with a victory that would have given added credence to the decision made in July. “To be only seconds away, of course it's disappointing, but it's still been a great season for us,” John Dixon, their coach, said.

Extra time was no less than a game of fluctuating fortunes deserved after Salford had forged a 10-0 lead through tries by White and Mat Gardner, although Gardner's subsequent fluffing of a further try beneath the posts proved particularly costly.

Although the Welsh side began nervously, they gained in confidence and Anthony Blackwood's strong finish on the wing before the break gave them the belief to utilise their naturally expansive game.

Luke Dyer picked Mark Lennon's pass out wide off his bootlaces and acrobatically crossed at the corner and Jordan James crashed over in the 56th minute to put them ahead. Karl Fitzpatrick's try after good work by Myler and Jordan Turner restored Salford's advantage, only for the Crusaders to grab the initiative again. David

Tangata-Toa is not known for his long-distance runs but the Crusaders forward, exhorted by the yelling Dixon to “go David, go”, pinned his ears back from halfway after picking off Stefan Ratchford's errant pass.

Scorers: Salford City Reds: Tries: White 2, Gardner, Fitzpatrick, Sibbit, Myler. Goals: Wilshere 6. Celtic Crusaders: Tries: Blackwood, Dyer, James, Tangata-Toa. Goal: Lennon.

Salford City Reds: K Fitzpatrick; M Gardner, S Littler, J Wilshere, P White; R Paul, R Myler; P Highton, M Alker, C Stapleton, I Sibbit, L Adamson, J Turner. Interchange: S Ratchford, S Bannister, L Jewitt, P Leuluai.

Celtic Crusaders: T Duggan; L Dyer, J Hannay, M Dalle Court, A Blackwood; D Quinn, J Van Dijk; J James, N Budworth, D Tangata-Toa, C Beasley, D Mapp, T Martin. Interchange: A Summers, I Webster, M Lennon, N Wyatt.

Referee: B Thaler.