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Bristol Rovers
Conference Premier Playoffs | Final
May 17, 2015 at 2pm UK
 
Grimsby Town

1-1

Harrison (29')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Bristol Rovers win 5-3 on penalties

Live Commentary: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town (Bristol Rovers win 5-3 on penalties) - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of the Conference Premier playoff final as Bristol Rovers secure a return to the Football League by beating Grimsby on penalties.
2

Bristol Rovers secured their promotion back to the Football League by beating Grimsby Town in a penalty shootout at Wembley this afternoon.

Grimsby took the lead in the Conference Premier playoff final when Lenell John-Lewis opened the scoring less than two minutes in, but Ellis Harrison levelled before the half-hour mark.

With the sides still level after extra time, a missed penalty from Jon-Paul Pittman allowed Rovers to wrap up the shootout 5-3.

Read how all the drama unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Good afternoon! Bristol Rovers and Grimsby Town will both be hoping that they are back in the football league by the end of the day as they go head-to-head in the playoff final at Wembley.

Bristol Rovers have just announced their team news for this afternoon's match, so let's take a look at the squad...

BRISTOL ROVERS STARTING XI: Puddy, Lockyer, McChrystal, Parkes, Brown, Gosling, Lines, Mansell, Monkhouse, Taylor, Harrison

BRISTOL ROVERS SUBSTITUTES: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, Clarke, Balanta, Blissett

So, Darrell Clarke has made one change to his starting lineup following his side's win over Forest Green in the semi-finals. Ellis Harrison returns up front after serving a one-match suspension, resulting in Nathan Blissett dropping to the bench.

While we wait for Grimsby's team sheet, let's take a look back at the playoff semi-finals. Bristol Rovers beat Forest Green 3-0 on aggregate after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season. Meanwhile, Grimsby Town came through their tie with Eastleigh with ease, securing a 3-0 win at Blundell Park to clinch a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Ahead of this match, Grimsby manager Paul Hurst told BBC Radio Humberside: "I hope it is our time. I think we've got good experience, energy and we know we're organised. It is about handling the game. The mission when we first arrived at the football club was to get back to the Football League. While we're not in there it is a chain around us and we want to break it."

For Bristol Rovers, victory this afternoon would see the team bounce straight back into the football league after just one season in the Conference. They were relegated on the final day of last season, while their 7-0 thrashing of Alfreton was not enough to stop Barnet going up as champions a couple of weeks ago, leaving Rovers to finish second in the table.

For Grimsby, a win today would end a five year spell outside the league, with the team having been relegated in 2010 after a 23rd-placed finish in League Two. Grimsby have been in the playoffs for the last two seasons, but this is the first time that they have made it to the Wembley final.

As the club has been reminding its fans though, Grimsby have been successful in the playoffs before:


Both sets of players have been getting acquainted with the Wembley pitch this morning. As you can see from this picture on Rovers' instagram account, it's a nice bright day at the national stadium:

The boys inspect the pitch for the final time before they warm up.

A photo posted by Bristol Rovers (@official_brfc) on



Grimsby's team news is finally in, so here's their side for this afternoon's clash...

GRIMSBY STARTING XI: McKeown, Nsiala, Pearson, Magnay, Robertson, Mackreth, Disley, Brown, Arnold, John-Lewis, Palmer

GRIMSBY SUBSTITUTES: Hannah, Clay, Pittman, Parslow, Jolley

Grimsby have made just one change to the side that beat Eastleigh 3-0 in the second leg of their semi-final. Gregor Robertson has overcome a knee injury that sidelined him for that match, replacing on-loan defender Josh Gowling.

Matty Taylor will be the main danger for Bristol Rovers going forward this afternoon. The striker had 20 goals in the league this season, and was in fine form during their win over Forest Green. Grimsby's top scorer, Lenell John-Lewis, also looked dangerous in their tie with Eastleigh, creating a couple of goals and finding the back of the net himself.

Grimsby have been out for their warmup in the sunshine at Wembley. It won't be a sellout at the stadium this afternoon, but the bottom tier appears to be filling up nicely with 20 minutes still to go until kickoff:


Chris Lines, who was on the scoresheet for Bristol Rovers last time out, is one of the few players involved this afternoon to have already played at Wembley, having won promotion to League One with Rovers through the playoffs back in 2007. He told the Bristol Post: "What the trip down to Wembley on Monday did for me was to really help it sink in that we were actually in the final and that is all very real now.We had a walk around and did the tour with the kids but it is impossible to recreate what it will be like when the place is full of people on Sunday. You can take in the enormity of the place when it is empty but you only really feel that buzz when you walk out of the tunnel and get hit by that wall of noise."

Going up through the playoffs automatically makes a side one of the favourites for relegation next season, but the Conference playoff winner has typically done quite well in recent years. The last five sides that have come up through the playoffs are still in League Two. Torquay United are the only side that have won the playoffs and been relegated back to the Conference in the last eight years, so both sides will be confident that they can avoid the drop if they win this afternoon.

During their two meeting in the league this season, there wasn't a lot between these two sides. At Blundell Park, Rovers came away with a 1-0 win, while the two sides played to a goalless draw in Bristol right at the start of the campaign.

PREDICTION! The players will be making their way out of the tunnel shortly, so there's just time for a quick prediction. Both teams were clearly the stronger in their semi-finals, but there's been little between them in the league, so this should be a close one. They've both been in emphatic goal-scoring form recently, so I think we'll see more goals than in their league meetings. Bristol Rovers start as slight favorites, and I think they could just edge a 2-1 win this afternoon.

Both sets of players emerge from the tunnel to a rousing reception. Bristol Rovers appear to have just edged it in terms of the number of supporters, but there's plenty there for Grimsby too. It's going to be a cracking atmosphere for kickoff!

Just before the action gets underway, both players get to meet a number of dignitaries, including England manager Roy Hodgson.

The national anthem booms around the ground before kickoff, and both teams come together for team photos. Kickoff should be just a couple of moments away now.

KICKOFF! Bristol Rovers get the action underway!

Bristol Rovers look to put their opponents under pressure early on as Ellis Harrison looks to make a run through the middle, but a robust tackle from Mansell ensured that he doesn't get through.

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 0-1 Grimsby Town (Lenell John-Lewis)

Well that didn't take very long! Nathan Arnold charges towards the Bristol Rovers, cutting in from the left before looking for Lenell John-Lewis. The striker's initial touch is blocked, but he manages to scuff it towards the goal at the second time of asking, and it just bobbles beyond Will Puddy and into the back of the net. It's certainly not the most attractive goal, but it certainly means a lot to Grimsby. Incidentally, John-Lewis is celebrating his 26th birthday today!

Grimsby quickly try to get on the attack again, with a long ball forward from Carl Magnay deflecting out behind off Tom Parkes. The delivery is briefly delayed while the referee has to pop a couple of balloons, but McChrystal eventually wins the ball and head it behind, before Arnold gives away a free kick as the ball is played back in.

There's a coming together between the two sides as Gosling curls the ball in for Matty Taylor, but James McKeown gets to it first. The Rovers striker catches the keeper in the head with a trailing leg though, resulting in an angry reaction from the Grimsby players as McKeown lays on the turf in pain. The referee quickly steps in to break the scuffle up though, and it looks like both Taylor and McKeown will be alright to play on.

McKeown is under pressure again as Matty Taylor manages to beat Nsiala to the ball before rounding the keeper, but the angle is too tight for him to shoot, allowing the keeper to recover and eventually bury it beneath him. Rovers have certainly responded well to conceding the early goal.

It's worth pointing out that scoring early doesn't necessarily mean success. Luton Town scored the fastest ever Conference playoff final goal back in 2012 less than a minute into the match, but went on to lose 2-1 to York City.

Bristol Rovers fail to clear the ball from a long throw in, but Ollie Palmer can't control it on the turn to get a shot away. Taylor intercepts the ball and quickly sprints down the other end, but there's no-one waiting in support.

CHANCE! The birthday boy wants a second as a Tom Parkes slips allows Grimsby to launch a counter. John-Lewis thinks that he has just the keeper to beat as he lunges forward to meet a high ball, but Puddy does just enough to keep it out before McChrystal turns it behind for a corner.

BOOKING! Will Puddy is a lucky, lucky boy as he handles the ball outside his area as the last man. The Grimsby supporters chant "off, off, off" as the referee walks over to the keeper, but he just books the goalie. There's certainly plenty of times that keepers have seen red for that!

CHANCE! Grimsby force a corner from the free kick as a result of the Puddy handball. Rovers clear it, but only as far as Nathan Arnold, who hits it first time from 20 yards out, but the swerving shot doesn't quite dip enough, narrowly missing the target.

Bristol Rovers look keen to take the pressure off Puddy for the time being as they try to keep the ball in midfield, before a quick break gives them a corner. Arnold, who has certainly made a big impact so far this afternoon, wins it back for Grimsby though as immediately races towards the Rovers goal again, but Parkes does just enough to get it safely back to Puddy.

CHANCE! Grimsby can sense that Puddy isn't quite at his best this afternoon, so Ollie Palmer lines up a shot from 25 yards out. The keeper dives to the left in a bid to keep it out, but it's going wide anyway.

Rovers are on the attack again as Monkhouse flicks the ball across the middle of Gosling, who charges down the right before crossing it back in to the latter. Nsiala beats Monkhouse to the ball, but snatches at it wildly, putting it behind for the corner.

GOAL! Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town (Ellis Harrison)

Grimsby don't deal with the corner well, bundling it clear as far as Ellis Harrison just a few yards out, leaving the Wales Under-21 international to stab it into the roof of the net. James McKeown is livid with his defenders for not dealing with the corner better.

Grimsby want the lead back as Mackreth charges forward before pulling it back to Magnay. Parkes does enough to turn his ball behind for a corner though, which Puddy comes off his line to claim comfortably.

PENALTY SHOUT! Bristol Rovers are back down the other end moments later and want a spot kick as Taylor goes down under pressure from Mckeown and Robertson. It's not the first time Taylor and the Grimsby keeper have had a coming together. However, it was the defender that got the final touch, and it did appear that he got the ball, so the referee waves play on.

BOOKING! Matty Taylor and James McKeown clash again as a mistake from Pearson leaves the striker clean through on goal. McKeown rushes out to try to stop the striker, who takes a dramatic tumble. The referee blows, and Rovers think that they have a penalty, but Taylor finds himself in the book for simulation.

Mackreth battles hard down the right flank again as Grimsby look to put Bristol Rovers under pressure before the break. He pulls it back to Disley, who completely mis-hits his ball into the box. It's a waste of an opportunity as John-Lewis was in space in the area.

BOOKING! Carl Magnay is the third player to see the yellow card as he bundles Matty Taylor down. Incidentally, the striker has quite a swollen looking eye, probably from one of his many battles with McKeown. He certainly seems to be a marked man this afternoon!

CHANCE! Taylor sends in a low cross for Lines, who hesitates as he lines up the shot, squaring it for Monkhouse instead, who can only weakly scuff it to McKeown. Had lines hit that first time, that may very well have ended up in the back of the net.

Ellis Harrison gets the better of Magnay with a flick down the sideline, resulting in the midfielder wrestling the Bristol Rovers goalscorer to the ground. Magnay has just been booked, and is given a stern talking to by the referee. That is surely a final warning for the Grimsby man.

It's been a fairly eventful first half, so there are three minutes of stoppage time to be played. Bristol Rovers have the ball as they try to find a way back into the Grimsby box, but Pearson nods it clear.

HALF TIME: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town

After a thoroughly entertaining first half it's honours even as Ellis Harrison cancels out an early strike from Lenell John-Lewis in the Conference Premier playoff final. Tensions have been running high with both sides clearly desperate to claim the final place in the football league, so it's all set up for a thrilling second half.

Grimsby certainly made a bright start, with birthday both Lenell John-Lewis bundling the ball home less than two minutes in, but Bristol Rovers had the better chances in the final 15 minutes.

Both goalkeepers may consider themselves rather lucky to still be on the pitch. Grimsby's James McKeown has been embroiled in a battle with Matty Taylor. The striker was eventually booked for simulation, but replays suggest that the keeper did clip Taylor's ankle as he went down. With only the keeper to beat, it would certainly have been denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Will Puddy was luckier still after clearly handling the ball outside the area. The only saving grace for the Bristol Rovers keeper must have been that it was out wide, so it wasn't a clear-cut chance, but it certainly wouldn't have been a shock to see Puddy walk.

If both sides remain as attacking in the second half as they've been so far, it's hard not to see the score changing after the break. However, should the teams remain level after 90 minutes, it'll by extra time and potentially penalties.

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half.

RESTART! The second half is underway at Wembley.

Grimsby win a free kick, which is curled into the box for McChrystal to turn behind for a corner. Brown whips it back in for Grimsby, but Gosling managed to clear the danger for Bristol Rovers. The tempo isn't as high as it was at the start of the first half yet.

Grimsby have definitely seen more of the ball since the restart, but Lee Brown wins it back for Rovers, setting up Taylor for a run towards the Grimsby goal. Gosling gets the shot away, but Nsiala does just enough to block it.

Ellis Harrison weaves past a couple of defenders in a bid to create something for Bristol Rovers, but he eventually loses out to Nsiala. Neither side have really created anything to trouble the two keepers since the restart.

Nathan Arnold finds his path blocked as he presses for Grimsby, allowing Taylor to counter, but Nsiala is ready to make another well-timed tackle to get it clear for Grimsby. John-Lewis gets the ball inside the box down the other end, but he can't control it in time to get a shot away. It's end-to-end stuff at the moment.

Grimsby have just started to see a bit more of the ball in the last couple of minutes as they push to regain the lead. Neither side has settled since the second half got underway though, and it looks like Grimsby could be getting ready to make changes.

There's a worrying sight for Grimsby as Nsiala goes down holding the back of his calf. The team has had a bit of an injury crisis at the back, but Gregor Robertson having to start just two days after being ruled out of this match, with Gowling having strained his hamstring in training. Nsiala has made some good blocks this afternoon, so it would be a big blow if he had to go off.

Nsiala hobbles back on as Palmer and Arnold try to press forward for Grimsby, but they're unable to find a way through. The match has gone rather flat after a thrilling first half, with both teams knowing that letting in a goal now could end their hopes of playing in League Two next season.

Grimsby force a couple of corners, but the ball is eventually claimed by Puddy, who quickly launches Rovers on the counter attack. Lee Brown forces a throw in near the corner flag, but Grimsby get numbers back to make sure they can't create anything from it.

Lee Mansell quickly wins the ball back for Rovers before teeing up Taylor, but the club's top goalscorer hurries his shot, curling it well wide of McKeown's goal.

SUB! Grimsby decide it's time for a chance, with Jon-Paul Pittman coming on in place of Ollie Palmer. That should give the team a bit more pace up front.

Bristol Rovers are pressing again as the ball falls for Lines, but once again he is too slow to take on the shot, leaving the ball for Gosling instead, but he can't get the ball past Pearson. Meanwhile, Gregor Robertson is now down injured for Grimsby.

SUB! Daniel Parslow comes on for Grimsby, taking the place of the injured Robertson. Parslow has previously won and lost a playoff final at Wembley with York City, who he is currently on loan from.

SUB! Meanwhile, Bristol Rovers are making their first change, as Gosling heads off to make way for Angelo Balanta.

Bristol Rovers look the more attacking of the two sides at the moment as they turn to Lockyer for a long throw near the corner flag. Arnold is back to help out in defence though, booting it clear.

The strain of the first half seems to be taking its toll now as Ellis Harrison appears to have gone down with cramp. The youngster has put in a big shift for Rovers today, so they won't want him to go off if he can work the cramp off

SUB! Rovers decide it's best to take Harrison off, bringing Nathan Blissett on in his place.

It's just been confirmed that the crowd at Wembley this afternoon is a fraction over 47,000, which is a record for the Conference playoff final.

There's almost a horrific mixup between Disley and McKeown as the captain goes for a backpass to the keeper, but McKeown is not expecting it, and has to scramble to prevent the own goal, but he just reaches it in time.

Down the other end, Puddy gathers a cross into the box before picking out Monkhouse with a throw. The winger charges towards the Grimsby goal, but Nsiala heads it clear. On what we've seen so far in the second half, Bristol Rovers have looked the more likely, but it looks like both sides have accepted the prospect of extra time.

CHANCE! From nowhere, Blissett provides a superb ball forward for Taylor, who tries to chip it in, only to see his shot turned behind for a corner. Chris Lines curls it back in, but Parkes stumbles as he tries to head it in, nodding it straight out for a goal kick.

BOOKING! Scott Brown catches Chris Lines from behind as the Rovers man tries to break forward, earning the Grimsby defender a yellow card. It's certainly been a quieter second half for the referee compared to the fiery opening 45 minutes.

John-Lewis makes his way down the right before cutting the ball back for Mackreth, but the midfielder loses it on the turn. He eventually manages to get it back and finds Parslow on the wing. The on-loan defenders whips it in towards John-Lewis, but the Grimsby goalscorer couldn't quite stretch to it in time.

Grimsby have upped the tempo in the last couple of minutes as they try to force a late winner. John-Lewis bursts into the box again, but Puddy is ready to collect the ball.

With four minutes of stoppage time to be played, Rovers fire the ball forward for Blissett. He's got Nsiala for company though, and the defender times the challenge superbly to prevent the substitute from winning the ball.

CHANCE! Pittman and John-Lewis link up as Grimsby continue to seek a late winner, but Pittman's finish it well-taken by Puddy. Grimsby quickly win it back in midfield, but Puddy is on hand again. The keeper seems to have put his first-half troubles behind him.

FULL TIME: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town

After 90 minutes there's nothing to separate to two sides so it's time for extra time. The two teams will play an additional 30 minutes, and if it's still all square then, it will be penalties.

Grimsby will probably be keen to avoid the spot kicks. On their last trip to Wembley they lost the FA Trophy final to Wrexham in a penalty shootout.



It looks like the two teams are keen to get on with things, with both squads lining up ready to get extra time underway.

KICKOFF! Grimsby get extra time underway.

CHANCE! Bristol Rovers waste no time getting forward with Balanta striking the ball first time from the edge of the area, but McKeown did just enough to keep hold of the looping strike.

CHANCE! Both keepers are involved early in extra time as Grimsby force a corner, which Scott Brown curls in towards Nsiala, but the defender's header doesn't have enough power to squeeze it at the near post, leaving Puddy to claim it.

Grimsby appear to be dominating possession at the moment, but they haven't been able to get forward again. John-Lewis tries to get on the end of a long ball forward from Arnold, but there's too much on the ball, and it goes behind for a goal kick.

Pittman slides the ball wide for Arnold, leaving the winger to sprint towards the box, but his cross it turned behind for a corner.

SUB! Grimsby make their final change, with Scott Brown making way for Craig Clay.

Both sets of players are starting to show more than a few signs of fatigue as they near the half-way point in extra time, with Chris Lines the latest to pull up with a touch of cramp.

Parslow leads the Grimsby charge forward as the tries to find Pittman out wide, but he can't quite connect with the pacy winger. That allows Bristol Rovers to quickly press down the other end, but Taylor's finish is well wide.

EXTRA TIME HALF TIME: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town

Both sides made a bright start to extra time, but there are some weary looking players on the pitch as they make their way to the sideline for a quick drink midway through the addition spell.

The longer it remains level, the more likely it looks that this will be resolved on penalties. Both sides have 15 minutes to try to find a winner.

RESTART! Bristol Rovers get the final 15 minutes of extra time underway.

Taylor uses all the pace he can find to chase down a long ball forward with McKeown off his line, but Pearson does just enough to slow the forward down, allowing the keeper to get back.

CHANCE! John-Lewis has only Will Puddy to beat as he wins the ball in the box. The keeper blocks the ball, but only as far as Magnay, but Parkes just manages to hook it clear. Meanwhile, a couple of Rovers players are down with cramp again.

CHANCE! Lines battles back to his feet after struggling with cramp to rise high in the box to meet a free kick. The midfielder was left unmarked, be he could not keep the ball down, nodding it just high of the crossbar. He holds his head in his hands as he realises what a good chance he's just missed.

CHANCE! Monkhouse manages to get free from Parslow on the edge of the box, leaving himself in space as a high ball falls to him just inside the box. His first touch is poor though, leaving McKeown to claim it with ease. Blissett tries to get back on the attack moments later, but he's offside.

CHANCE! How much closer can Grimsby get to scoring a winning goal?! Pittman times his run into the box to perfection to collect a pass forward before pulling it back for John-Lewis, but Parkes lunges at the ball to turn it behind for a corner. John-Lewis was just inches behind the defender, and would surely have scored with the slightest of touches on the ball.

Grimsby have probably looked the more likely in the last 10 minutes, but Bristol Rovers have a corner, which Lines curls in, but Grimsby do enough to get it clear. Meanwhile, Mackreth appears to be the latest victim of cramp.

In a twist, it looks like Bristol Rovers are using their final substitution to change their keeper.

SUB! Steve Mildenhall is coming on for Will Puddy. He's a former Grimsby player, and only lost the starting role to Puddy a couple of months ago, and is taller than the young stopper. This tactic certainly worked for Louis van Gaal with Tim Krul in the World Cup.

EXTRA TIME FULL TIME: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town

Well, it's going to a penalty shootout! After 120 minutes there's nothing to separate the two sides so it's time for spot kicks.

Which end the penalty shootout takes place at could be relevant. Bristol Rovers have practically sold their half of the stadium out, so would create an intimidating atmosphere, while Mildenhall could face some stern words from the Grimsby fans if the spot kicks take place down that end.

Grimsby won the coin toss, so the penalties will take place in front of their fans.

Bristol Rovers 1-0 Grimsby Town Chris Lines gets Rovers off to a good start.

Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town Captain Craig Disley sends the substitute keeper the wrong way.

Bristol Rovers 2-1 Grimsby Town Matty Taylor takes a short run up but just squeezes it past McKeown.

Bristol Rovers 2-2 Grimsby Town Lenell John-Lewis powers it straight down the middle.

Bristol Rovers 3-2 Grimsby Town Lee Brown keeps it 100% with a penalty into the top left.

Bristol Rovers 3-2 Grimsby Town John-Paul Pittman is the first player to miss, slicing the ball well high of the crossbar.

Bristol Rovers 4-2 Grimsby Town Rovers keep the pressure on with Angelo Balanta sending it to the left.

Bristol Rovers 4-3 Grimsby Town Craig Clay knows that he has to score to keep Grimsby in it, and he does.

Bristol Rovers 5-3 Grimsby Town Lee Mansell seals it for Rovers with a spot kick into the roof of the net.

BRISTOL ROVERS ARE PROMOTED TO LEAGUE TWO!

Bristol Rovers' players are elated as Lee Mansell thumps home the winning penalty. By contract, Jon-Paul Pittman looks inconsolable as he knows that his missed spot kick has cost Grimsby a place in the football league.

The result means that Bristol Rovers are back in the football league after just a year in the Conference, while Grimsby lose out in the playoffs for a third straight year. Rovers are the first team to bounce straight back in 10 years!

Well, that's all from this match, but stick around to read our match report. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.


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