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Bonkers wet night sees 7-goal thriller with League Two Playoff Final set

A bonkers wet Sunday night at The New Lawn in Gloucestershire sees an extraordinary 7-goal thriller with the League Two playoff final set.

Forest Green Rovers played host to Newport County in the second leg of what turned out to be yet another dramatic tie to end the campaign.

The Exiles went into the game with a 2-0 lead after victory in first leg on Tuesday.

Forest Green managed to level the tie within eight minutes thanks to goals from Adams and Collins, before Cadden saw his free-kick put them in front.

Newport’s Ellison then levelled the tie at 3-3 on aggregate to become oldest player to play and score in playoffs.

At 42 years of age, he is the oldest outfield player ever to feature in the EFL playoffs and becomes the oldest scorer ever in the EFL playoffs.

He has represented fourteen clubs during his career, making in excess of 550 appearances in the Football League; including 350 games for Morecambe, the 20/21 playoff finalist. Ellison also once played in the Premier League.

There are no away goals rule in the EFL playoffs – so the tie would go to extra time if it is level on aggregate.

It didn’t come to that however as on the 76th minute, Newport went in front.

Sheehan saw his ball out to Haynes on the left, his cross was met by Joss Labadie who gets into the area and shoots in from the corner of the six-yard box.

7th minute – Forest Green 1-0 Newport (1-2 agg) – Ebou Adams
8th minute – Forest Green 2-0 Newport (2-2 agg) – Aaron Collins
53rd minute – Forest Green 3-0 Newport (3-2 agg) – Nicky Cadden
70th minute – Forest Green 3-1 Newport (3-3 agg) – Kevin Ellison
76th minute – Forest Green 3-2 Newport (3-4 agg) – Joss Labadie
87th minute – Forest Green 4-2 Newport (4-4 agg) – Jamille Matt
118th minute – Forest Green 4-3 Newport (4-5 agg) – Nicky Maynard

The goals didn’t stop there, Jamille Matt, you know, the guy who completely mess up his hand earlier in the season, well he’s since recovered much quicker than expected and got Forest Green an equaliser.

Odin Bailey got the ball on the left, curled in a lovely cross and Matt got in front of the defender to clip the ball in from close range.

It was his 17th goal of the season against his former club – it could be the most important of his career.

After six minutes of stoppage time, the game had to go to extra time with it Forest Green 4-2 Newport (4-4 on aggregate).

It looked as though we were heading for penalties following some awful missed chances to win it.

However, it was Forest Green players that fell to the ground deflated and in tears when Newport got the winner on the verge of game ending. 5-4 on aggregate for the Welsh outfit.

Nicky Maynard in the 118th minute.

It could have been even worse for Rovers as the Exiles smacked the crossbar two minutes later.

EFL PLAYOFF FINALS:

Saturday 29th May 2021 – Brentford v Swansea City – Championship Playoff Final – 3pm – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD

Sunday 30th May 2021 – Blackpool v Lincoln City – League One Playoff Final – 3pm – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD

Monday 31st May 2021 – Newport v Morecambe – League Two Playoff Final – 3pm – Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HD

Fans reacted to what was a bonkers wet night which sees a 7-goal thriller with the League Two Playoff Final now set…

@ExiledBen: You mat annoy me a lot but my God I love this club.

@cwaiigyy: One of the most fantastic games I’ve seen, come on, time to dispose of the shrimps next week. Good luck, from a tranmere fan.

@wiseowl248: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done!!!

@tweetian01: Never say die well done County, What character 👏👏👏👏👏

@mwwhtafc81: What a game 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 beats premiership football by a mile.

@SwanseaAlliance: What a great game of football and absolutely delighted you’re going to Wembley. Best of luck, here’s hoping for a Welsh double next weekend

@TomEvans245: Get me on that coach 💛🖤💛🖤💛🖤

@edward_w97: Brentford-Bournemouth: Nothing else is beating this play-off game for the rest of the season. Forest Green-Newport: Hold my Vegan Burger…

@MarkTho91985468: What a game of football that was!! Well done Newport! Commiseration’s Forest Green!

@griffiths_tom41: Well done Newport. All the best in the final. Hopefully see you at Hillsborough next season.

@grrooves: Amazing scenes. Well done lads!!!

@NCAFCBenjyy: THAT TASTES LIKE PROMOTION

@OJCross: Great effort! Team spirit throughout!

@Georgeprothero7: YEEEEEAHHHHHH CMONNNNN @j4mmaa SHHHHH SMALL PLAYER MESSING WITH BIG KINGY PAAAAAAAAAA🤫🤫🤫🤫

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