Sheffield United: Former Blades youngster is the goalscoring hero as Lincoln City win Checkatrade Trophy at Wembley

Whitehouse tapped in from close range in the 16th minute as the Imps became the first fourth-tier team to lift the trophy since Luton did so in 2009.

It heaped further Wembley misery upon Shrewsbury, who have lost every one of their four matches at the national stadium.

The Sky Bet League One side started brightest, with Bryn Morris smashing a long-range effort against the bar in the fifth minute.

Matt Rhead was fortunate not to receive his marching orders four minutes later when he elbowed Dean Henderson.

Lincoln took control when Whitehouse fired home after Henderson had initially saved from Luke Waterfall.

Ryan Allsop saved brilliantly from Omar Beckles before James Bolton hit the post with the follow-up in the 32nd minute.

Nolan had a long-range effort deflected out for a corner in the 54th minute, before Morris and Nathan Thomas had shots blocked as the Shrews stepped it up.

Rhead fluffed a great chance to double Lincoln's lead when he skied over from 12 yards on the hour.

But it did not prove costly as City mounted a determined defensive effort to seal a famous victory.

Whitehouse captained the Blades in their run to the FA Youth Cup final in 2011, where they lost to Manchester United and he came up against Paul Pogba. After leaving United, he played for Notts County and Nuneaton Town before finding a home at Lincoln in League Two

Boss Danny Cowley wants Lincoln to use their Checkatrade Trophy triumph to push on in the league.

Shrewsbury, who are 27 places higher than Lincoln in the Football League system, have now lost all four of their Wembley visits.

"To do what we did last year (win promotion) and back it up with another successful season has been great," said Imps manager Cowley. "We are really pleased to have won this trophy, we want to use this momentum to push us on in the league.

"We have won something and we will draw confidence from that. We have another important game against Port Vale on Saturday.

"Shrewsbury have had their success by outworking the opposition and we knew we would have to match them.

"A lot of us have come from the bottom of non-league football so for the players to keep their nerve is magnificent.

"I am really proud of the way they controlled their emotions and the level they performed at under real pressure.

"The support of our fans was incredible and I am really pleased for them and for the club, the club has not had the success that the supporters deserve."

Shrews boss Paul Hurst said his players must now regroup and successfully push for promotion.

"We are disappointed, we wanted to be going up the steps to lift the trophy," he said.

"That hasn't happened because we were not good enough in the game.

"We have to accept that, be honest about our performance as a team and as individuals, but we have to move on very quickly and focus on our league campaign.

"We cannot afford to dwell on it, we are straight back on league action against Bradford on Thursday and that is where the focus has to be.

"Our performance was very patchy, I feel like the occasion got to some of the players with the nerves. We have to lick our wounds now and move on.

"Today we could not produce a performance that we are capable of and have produced through the season.

"I feel for the fans who have been here four times and not seen us win. We wanted to change history."