Grimsby Town secured promotion back to EFL Sky Bet League Two with a 3-1 National League play-off final win over Forest Green Rovers at Wembley Stadium on this day (May 15) in 2016.
Paul Hurst’s side were successful in the play-offs at the fourth time of asking, ending Town’s six-year spell as a non-League club.
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Omar Bogle scored a two-minute brace just before half time to send the Mariners into the break with a 2-0 lead over Scott Bartlett’s men at the national stadium.
But forward Keanu Marsh-Brown pulled one back for Forest Green with an outstanding long-range goal on the hour-mark.
And Town continued to hold on and soak up the pressure before midfielder Jon Nolan carried the ball up-field in the build-up play to Town’s iconic third goal in injury time.
Nolan passed it to on-loan Oxford United striker Patrick Hoban, whose shot was blocked, before winger Nathan Arnold controlled it and rounded goalkeeper Steve Arnold in the 94th minute to secure promotion.
Goalkeeper James McKeown started, with a back four of Richard Tait, Aristote ‘Toto’ Nsiala, Josh Gowling, and Gregor Robertson.
Captain Craig Disley, Craig Clay, and Jon Nolan made up the midfield three, with Nathan Arnold, Omar Bogle, and top goalscorer Padraig Amond in attack.
Jon-Paul Pittman, Patrick Hoban, and Shaun Pearson all came on as late substitutes to replace Amond, Bogle, and Arnold.
More than 13,000 Town fans were at Wembley, in an attendance of 17,198, to see the Mariners finally return to the EFL.
What was your emotion as the final whistle was blown? Tweet us at @OfficialGTFC!
Images courtesy of Paul Burgess, Michael White, Lee Blease, and Anne Boyers.
