Bristol Rovers back in Football League with shoot-out win

Bristol Rovers beat Grimsby Town on penalties to win the Conference promotion final and secure an instant return to the Football League.

The Mariners went ahead inside the opening two minutes at Wembley thanks to Lenell John-Lewis’ bundled finish.

Bristol Rovers forward Ellis Harrison then slammed home an equaliser.

And, after a goalless second half and extra-time period, Lee Mansell scored the winning penalty after Jon-Paul Pittman blazed his spot-kick over.

It means Bristol Rovers, relegated from the fourth tier for the first time in 94 years only 12 months ago, are the first side to bounce straight back up from the Conference since 2005.

Under 37-year-old manager Darrell Clarke, they had recovered from picking up just one point from their first three matches of this campaign to launch a genuine title challenge, only losing out to champions Barnet on the final day of the season.

But they bounced back from that disappointment to register a 3-0 aggregate win over Forest Green in the play-off semi-finals, before again having to display great resilience to overturn an early deficit against the Mariners.

By contrast, Grimsby have been a non-league side since their relegation in 2010, and defeat by the Pirates marks their third successive play-off failure.

Paul Hurst’s team had got off to a flying start in front of a Conference record crowd of 47,029 fans, going ahead after Nathan Arnold’s driving run into the penalty area allowed John-Lewis to force the ball over the line at the second attempt.

The Mariners continued to press and Rovers goalkeeper Will Puddy survived a major scare when handling Ollie Palmer’s shot outside the area, escaping with only a yellow card.

But Harrison, recalled after missing the semi-final second leg through suspension, lashed the ball in to restore parity after Grimsby had failed to clear Jake Gosling’s corner.

The frantic, open nature of the first period could not be matched by a tense and nervy goalless second – a theme that continued throughout extra time.

After Rovers boss Clarke had opted to change goalkeepers for the shootout – bringing Steve Mildenhall on to face his former club – the first five penalties were then all successful.

But Pittman blasted his effort over the crossbar and, after a further two spot-kicks were converted, Mansell fired into the top corner to send Rovers back up to the Football League at the first time of asking.

 

BBC Sport