Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One play-off final: Grimsby Borough 2 Ecclshill United 3
(after extra-time, 2-2 90min)
ECCLESHILL United won promotion to the Premier Division of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League after a dramatic play-off final that was marred by a serious injury to the Eagles' Scott Manning.
The left back suffered a broken leg midway through the first half and the game was delayed for almost an hour as an ambulance crew arrived to treat him.
Manning was then whisked off to hospital in Grimsby and remains there following an operation to set both his tibia and fibula.
The Eagles were leading 1-0 at the time after Antony Brown had had bustled his way through and slotted the ball under Boro keeper Scott Drury.
The sides were taken back into the dressing rooms due to the length of the stoppage for Manning’s injury.
Carlton Pownall came off the bench to replace the stricken defender as the match finally re-started, and the visitors almost doubled their lead when a Tom Rose effort was well saved by Drury.
But the tie was soon levelled when a good break led to an excellent cross, with Boro midfielder Callum Lovett finding the top corner with a powerful header.
Parity remained until just before the hour when the home side edged ahead.
A shot was charged down but Jack Denham reacted quickly, the right-sided midfield man pouncing to beat Eagles keeper Dom Smith from close range.
However, Eccleshill were awarded a last-gasp penalty, and Andy Cooper showed no signs of nerves as he fired past Drury to take the tie into extra-time.
In each half of the additional half-hour there were chances for both sides, who had finished level on points after 42 games, with Boro gaining home advantage in the play-off final by virtue of a better goal difference.
However, the only chance taken was by Luke Harrop after the Eagles’ top scorer had been picked out by substitute Levi Maturine, and enphatically despatched the ball into the top corner.
Sean Regan’s men will face six derbies in the ninth their next season after joining Thackley, Albion Sports and Liversedge in the Premier Division.
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