FOREST GREEN ROVERS 1
(Marsh-Brown 60)
GRIMSBY TOWN 3
(Bogle 42, 43, N Arnold 90+4)
GRIMSBY TOWN ended their six season exile from the Football League by beating Forest Green Rovers 3-1 at Wembley.
The Mariners, losers in the promotion final last season on penalties to Bristol Rovers, kept their nerve this time around.
Two goals in a minute at the end of the first half and a Nathan Arnold effort in stoppage time were enough deny Rovers a first ever campaign in the Football League.
Both sides looked full of purpose from the first whistle, Gregor Robertson halting Keanu Marsh-Brown’s run just outside the box with just 30 seconds on the clock.
David Pipe had the first effort on target with a looping header from a corner but the Mariners then hit back, skipper Craig Disley forcing a smart save out of Steve Arnold who then made a stunning block in the 11th minute.
Jon Nolan curled in a free-kick to the back post, the ball made its way across goal and Omar Bogle really should have scored with a header from close range, the keeper doing brilliantly to push his effort away.
The first 20 minutes were extremely open with a Football League place on the line and Marsh-Brown tested James McKeown with a long-range effort on the half hour that the keeper did well to shovel away.
With the game calming down towards half time, a two-minute Grimsby blitz put them in the hotseat.
First, Bogle headed home a Nolan free-kick via a heavy deflection off Darren Carter – who had given the foul away – in the 41st minute.
There were no questions over the second. Nathan Arnold’s stinging effort couldn’t be held by keeper Steve Arnold and Bogle, a summer signing from Solihull Moors, pounced to double Grimsby’s lead.
Forest Green top scorer Jon Parkin climbed off the bench at the start of the second half as Rovers looked for a way back into the match.
And the big striker should have scored five minutes after his introduction but somehow sidefooted wide at the back post following Marsh-Brown’s low ball in with the goal at his mercy.
Thankfully for Parkin the mercurial winger dug him out of a hole. Marsh-Brown picked up the ball 25-yards from goal and with nothing on, he unleashed a wonderful swerving effort that flew past McKeown to halve the deficit on the hour.
Rovers brought on James Jennings and Anthony Jeffrey with their last throws of the dice as they looked to force the issue.
But the Mariners were content to stand strong and play on the counter attack as they shielded their one goal advantage.
Five minutes were added on at the end of an enthralling contest but the closest Rovers came to taking the game to extra time was Parkin’s curling effort that flew harmlessly wide.
And Nathan Arnold put the result beyond doubt, picking up a blocked effort and rounding Steve Arnold to send the Mariners back into the Football League.
Forest Green / Grimsby
Shots on: 5 / 7
Shots off: 5 / 1
Corners: 4 / 0
Offsides: 1 / 1
Fouls: 6 / 6
Yellows: 1 / 0
Reds: 0 / 0
FOREST GREEN (4-4-2): S Arnold; Bennett, Clough, Racine, Jefford (Jennings 71); Frear, Carter, Pipe, Marsh-Brown; Williams (Parkin 46), Guthrie (Jefrrey 78) Subs not used: Kamdjo, Maxted
GRIMSBY (4-4-2): McKeown; Tait, Gowling, Nsials, Robertson; N Arnold (Pearson 90), Disley, Clay, Nolan; Bogle (Hoban 89), Amond (Pittman 80) Subs not used: Marshall, East
Star Man: Omar Bogle (Grimsby Town)
Match Rating: 4/5
Attendance: 17,198
Ref: Robert Jones 6/10
