United 1
(Covolan 90+5’)
Hartlepool 1
(Armstrong 35′)
Hartlepool win 5-4 on penalties
There was heartbreak at Ashton Gate on Sunday, as United’s season-long battle for promotion ended at the final stage in Bristol.
A first-half effort from Luke Armstrong looked to have been enough to ensure it was Hartlepool – rather than Torquay – that sealed their return to the Football League for 2021/22, and although an astonishing last-gasp leveller from goalkeeper Lucas Covolan took the match into an additional 30 minutes, it was the side from the North-East that prevailed via a penalty shoot-out.
It was little surprise when it was revealed that boss Gary Johnson decided to make no changes to the side that dispatched Notts County 4-2 in the Play-Off semi-finals last weekend for the showpiece final in Bristol.
The men in yellow began well, winning a corner inside two minutes. Although Armani Little’s flag-kick initially struck a defender at the near post, the ensuing goalmouth scramble that followed nearly saw Sam Sherring steer the ball home. Pools just about survived that, and won a corner of their own three minutes later. Although the ball did end up in the back of the net, there was little cause for alarm, with Covolan clearly impeded.
United did just the same in the 7th minute, but this time there was much more controversy over the decision to disallow it.
A pacy break saw Hartlepool man Ryan Johnson use illegal means to stop Adam Randell breaking clear 35 yards out, and when Little’s free-kick was headed into the back of the net by Kyle Cameron, the punishment for the foul looked the ultimate one.
The officials took some time to make their decision, with the scoreboard and goal music already in full swing, however the referee wouldn’t be swayed, and it remained goalless, despite much confusion, and huge frustration in the Gulls’ camp.
No doubt relieved by the let-off, Rhys Oates’s strike from just outside the box on ten minutes forced Covolan into serious action for the first time. He proved equal to it, albeit gathering at the second attempt.
Johnson’s side had spent the early stages bossing possession, however they came close to coming unstuck with a quarter of an hour on the clock, with Sherring having to stretch every sinew in order to divert Gavan Holohan’s teasing ball away from Armstrong six yards out. It was close.
That sparked Hartlepool’s best spell of the game so far, with Armstrong’s header from David Ferguson’s right-wing cross forcing Covolan to divert the ball round the post.
As the first period edging past the halfway point, United responded. A decent break from The Gulls saw Randell in full flight again, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ through ball giving him the opportunity to fire in a left-footed effort towards goal, however it lacked the power and precision to worry Brad Jones in between the sticks.
Moments later Lemonheigh-Evans worked room inside the penalty area to fire in a poked effort of his own, however it was again too close to the ‘keeper. Then captain and top scorer Asa Hall made the most of some excellent hold-up play from Danny Wright to send in a volley from 20 yards, however a trailing leg prevented the goalbound effort from reaching its intended target.
The Yellow Army – in fine voice throughout – would have been enthused by their side’s determination to open the scoring though, as they threatened to gain control over proceedings.
Just past the half-hour, a driving run from Ben Wynter saw him divert centrally to set up Randell once more, with this effort causing James much more work, as he palmed it over the bar.
Their opponents continued to look dangerous on the break though, with strike duo Oates and Armstrong particularly prominent, and it was the latter who opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
A ball into the box saw Armstrong blocked from getting in his initial strike, however after turning his marker, he lashed the ball past Covolan and into the roof of the net to send his side a goal up.
It nearly got worse before the interval, with Oates rising unmarked to glance his header narrowly wide of the far post. A cleaner connection could have made for a two-goal deficit.
Torquay would have appreciated the half-time whistle far more than Hartlepool, with Johnson’s side increasingly under threat in the minutes leading up to the interval. Oates again threatened, with his header right on the referee’s whistle only kept out by Covolan’s heroics, in the form of a one-handed palm over the bar.
There was plenty of work to do to salvage United’s EFL dream at break.
A huge response was needed, and there was certainly no lack of urgency from Torquay following the restart.
They nearly pulled level three minutes in, as Dean Moxey’s deep cross saw Liddle divert the ball behind, however, his connection saw it travel much closer to the far post than he would have liked.
Unperturbed, United maintained the territorial dominance for the next ten minutes, with a run and shot from Lemonheigh-Evans looking promising, but sadly lacking the finish required, as the Welshman’s effort sailed well wide.
Just short of the hour mark, there was yet more to debate, as another decision went against Johnson’s side.
On the break, Wynter’s lofted ball towards the penalty spot saw Cameron and James rise for it, and despite the United man seeming to time his leap to perfection as he headed the ball over him, once again the referee saw otherwise.
Torquay kept pushing though, with Hall next to try his luck, with a curling effort from 25 yards just failing to dip below the bar.
Then with 64 minutes on the clock, an untidy challenge on Lemonheigh-Evans inside the penalty box saw United’s Player of the Year hit the deck. Again, the officials ruled against the men in yellow.
It was now becoming tough to take.
Randell inadvertently had another effort towards goal in the 67th minute, as a defensive clearance hit his back before looping up and threatening to go over James, before the stopper rose to gather.
It was all Torquay now in their pursuit for an equaliser – Little was next to have a go, however his 20 yard strike was directed straight at the goalkeeper’s midrift.
By now, Hartlepool were offering little in the way of an attacking threat, with only a shot on the counter from Mark Shelton breaking things up, as they appeared content to soak up everything that The Gulls continued to throw at them.
Randell, receiving a one-two from Little, fired another shot at goal in the 88th minute, however it was too high.
In the last minute of normal time, Little sent another ball to the back post, and after Wright directed back into the danger area, substitute Waters got a touch, however it only sent it over the upright.
When they needed a ‘Gary Time’ goal most, it seemed it just wouldn’t come.
But then, with six minutes of injury time indicated, five had passed by the time a late, late corner was won. Covolan appeared to be seeking authorisation to head into enemy territory, however when the initial delivery was half-cleared, he decided to stay put.
Little sent the ball straight back from whence it came, and lo and behold, it was The Gulls’s Brazilian glovesman who rose highest to beat his opposite number.
To the Yellow Army’s huge relief – this time it counted.
Que absolute bedlum in the United end of BS3 – Onto extra time, for the second week running then.
Chances were at a premium in the first period, however Wright held off attentions to feed the ball into Waters in the 101th minute, with James having to make a decent low save to keep it out, with fellow replacement Benji Kimpioka lurking with intent.
There was a huge blow shortly after though, as Andrews was forced to leave the field via a stretcher. Primary thoughts were of course with the player, however it also robbed Johnson’s men of an invaluable set-piece source. Just as it had done all season, injuries were doing its best to unravel all of United’s hard work.
No further opportunities were forthcoming in that first fifteen.
In the last period of open play of the match – and of the season – both sides seemed to toy with the idea of finding a winner, although neither really threatened – an off-balance Wright header from a corner aside – until both sides eventually succumbed to penalties.
Johnson’s men were hoping to emulate the Class of 1990/91 who won promotion to Division 3 at Wembley via the same method. This time though, the shoot-out went against them.
Neither side started the penalty kick contest well.
Nicky Featherstone saw his saved by Covolan, before Waters slipped and saw his effort go wide.
Armstrong, a scorer in normal time, also saw his effort palmed away by Covolan, before Wright struck the upright.
Mark Shelton was the first to succeed, and Hall followed suit.
Jamie Sterry scored, then Lewis matched him.
Luke Molyneux put his away, as did Little, so we moved to sudden death.
Mark Elliot sent Covolan the wrong way, and Lemonheigh-Evans coolly slotted his in to draw level again.
Hartlepool had the advantage of going first, and when Ryan Donaldson scored, the pressure on Matt Buse was immense. Sadly he missed, hitting the bar, leaving Hartlepool to celebrate.
After a season that often promised so much, defeat in the final is undoubtedly hard to stomach, especially in these circumstances.
However, once the dust has settled, the Club can look back proudly on a remarkable campaign in which United consistently battled for promotion right until the finale in both the season proper, and in the post-season Play-Offs.
Although those EFL dreams will have to wait a little longer to be fulfilled for now, with Johnson confirmed to be at the helm next term, and our beloved supporters likely to be joining him at Plainmoor in greater numbers for 2021/22, another concerted promotion push surely won’t be too far away.
Thank you for your loyal support over the past year, Yellow Army. Keep the faith, and we’ll see you back here again in August.
TUFC: 33. Lucas Covolan (GK), 2. Ben Wynter, 4. Kyle Cameron (28. Benji Kimpioka, 77′), 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Danny Wright, 10. Armani Little, 12. Adam Randell (25. Billy Waters, 89′), 16. Sam Sherring, 21. Dean Moxey (11. Jake Andrews, 84′(15. Matt Buse, 105′)), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald (GK).
Yellow Card: Lewis, 56′, Little, 76′
HARTLEPOOL: 13. Brad James, 3. David Ferguson (26. Zaine Francis-Angol, 76′), 4. Gary Liddle, 5. Timi Odusina (10. Luke Molyneux, 120′), 6. Mark Shelton, 8. Nicky Featherstone (c), 11. Rhys Oates (27. Danny Elliott, 72′), 14. Gavan Holohan (7. Ryan Donaldson, 90+2′), 15. Ryan Johnson, 23. Jamie Sterry, 29. Luke Armstrong.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Ben Killip.
Yellow Card: Johnson, 7′, Oates, 56′
Attendance: 6,606