However, the impressive four-goal victory was just not enough as Chelsea dismantled Wigan Athletic 8-0 to claim the 2009/10 Premier League title, and ultimately end United three-year reign as champions.
Sir Alex Ferguson can only be best pleased by his team s effort as they looked relaxed and comfortable in the win.
The United boss knew that his team was not in a great position and needed nothing short of a miracle to overturn Chelsea s slim, but decisive edge in the title race, but his team put in a valiant effort and could have been a couple of goals to the good within 10 minutes.
The highly-scrutinized Dimitar Berbatov narrowly missed two headers - one clipping the top of the Potters crossbar - to give United the edge.
Like they did earlier in the season, United bossed the tempo and possession and had Stoke on the back foot for the majority of the half.
The breakthrough finally came following a corner when Fletcher pounced when Stoke was unable to clear the ball, and the Scot hammered the ball into the roof of the net. United were rampant and smelled Stoke s blood and went for their jugular.
Influence
Despite missing a couple of good chances to score, Berbatov turned provider, and really should have been rewarded with an assist when his clever flick sprung Wayne Rooney in behind the Stoke defense, but Robert Huth did well to recover and block his goal-bound effort.
To compound Rooney's less than impressive afternoon, he was beat out for the Premier League's Golden Boot following Didier Drogba's hat-trick in Chelsea's thumping win.
It was the Bulgarian was again deeply involved in United s attack, and his work down the left-hand side of the Stoke defense ultimately led to United s second goal just before half-time.
After receiving the ball out wide, the 30million man outmuscled and then outpaced Andy Wilkinson, and his perfectly-placed slide rule ball, which was dummied by Nani, eventually ended up in the path of Giggs, and United legend slotted the ball home from 12-yards out.
The goal was 155th of Giggs illustrious career, and despite not scoring throughout, he is the only player to have score in every season since the Premier League began in 1992.
United were well-worth their two-goal advantage heading into the break, but they picked up right where they left off and pressed Stoke back.
Following a massive amount of pressure in the offensive-third, United eventually goal their third.
A great pass from Fletcher put Rooney in a good position to set up Huth for a dink of the shoulder, and his delicate left-footed cross was turned into the Stoke net by Higginbottom - which amazingly was the 11th time that United benefitted from an own goal.
With the points and the destination of the title all but secured, Ferguson opted to bring on two of his up and coming players, Darron Gibson and Federico Macheda, on for the two players in the first-half - Paul Scholes and Berbatov - to give them a chance to add to the scoreline.
Both players have been told they are stars of the future at Old Trafford, but they didn't have their shooting boots on this afternoon.
However, it was Ferguson's third substitution had the final say in the score line. Park, who came on to replace the crocked-again Rooney, slammed home a great diving header to put the nail in the Stoke coffin.
Impressive
Nani has provided Sir Alex a selection headache for next season as he showed how inventive he can be when he plays down his favored right-hand flank.
The talented winger, who has really matured in the second-half of the season, continued being a meance for opposing defenders and was a real handful for Stoke s backline all game.
Nani is often criticized for his sometime poor distribution, finally did one thing that he never did before - he let the forwards. Berbatov and Rooney, have it when his good work along the endline came to nothing.
The little outburst has showed that the pacey winger is starting to get a backbone as he is on the verge of becoming one of Ferguson s first-choice attacking options.
Saved
To replicate their determined and disciplined manager, Tony Pulis, Stoke forced Edwin van der Sar into two world-class saves.
Rory Delap, who is best-known for his long throw-ins, popped up to at the far post and his well-placed header was destined for the net, but van der Sar amazingly palmed his header away to safety.
Then former United youth player, Danny Pugh, stroked a curling effort that was heading for the top corner, but again the big Dutchman was up to the task, and he tipped the ball around the post.
Matchball
Giggs showed how influential he still is in 19th year with the club, and his smartly-timed runs were way too much for the Stoke midfielders and defenders to cope with.
However, it was long, searching balls that earner him the man of the match honors, because on three different occasions he provided a pass of 50-yards or more on a dime to unlock the defiant Stoke defense.
Giggs, along with Scholes and Gary Neville, will definitely have a huge say to where next year s title ends up.
Chelsea did enough to fend off Manchester United s late season charge as well as end their stranglehold on the Barclays Premier League title, but Sir Alex Ferguson will have his team ready to challenge for next season's title in August.
Ratings
E.van der Sar - 8; G. Neville - 6, R. Ferdinand - 6, N. Vidic - 7, P. Evra - 7; Nani - 7, P. Scholes - 7 (D. Gibson - 5), D. Fletcher - 7, R. Giggs - 8; D. Berbatov -7 (F. Macheda - 5), W. Rooney - 6 (J.S. Park - 6)
Goals
D. Fletcher (31'), R. Giggs (38'), Own Goal (54'), J.S. Park (84')
Statistics
Possession: 61%
Corners: 11
Shots (on goal): 21 (6)
Bookings: P. Scholes (57'), N. Vidic (79')
Article Contributed by UnitedViewFromAbroad. The views expressed in this article are personal to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC or One United USA.
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