Hartlepool United 1 Torquay United 1 LIVE: Pools are back in the Football League after stunning 5-4 penalty shoot-out win
and live on Freeview channel 276
The final is taking place at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate stadium at 2pm today, with Dave Challinor’s side backed by 3,100 Pools fans who have travelled to the south west over the weekend.
Our team will keep you up-to-speed with the latest team and injury news ahead of kick-off, with rolling coverage of the game plus action, analysis and reaction to come over the course of the day.
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Hide AdDom Scurr, Rich Mennear and Frank Reid are in Bristol for the Mail to bring you unrivalled coverage as Pools look to win promotion back to the Football League after four years at this level.
Pools have beaten Bromley and Stockport County to reach the final.
Scroll down for the latest developments from Ashton Gate in our live blog.
Hartlepool United 1 (Armstrong, 34) Torquay United LIVE: Pools win 5-4 on penalties!!
Key Events
- Hartlepool face Torquay in the National League play-off final, kick-off is 2pm here in Bristol.
- A place in the Football League is at stake with the final played at Ashton Gate, there will be 3,100 Pools fans watching on.
- Pools: James; Ferguson, Johnson, Liddle, Odusina, Sterry; Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan; Oates, Armstrong
- Pools subs: Killip, Donaldson, Molyneux, Francis-Angol, Elliott
- Torquay: Covolan, Wynter, Cameron, Lemonheigh-Evans, Hall (c), Wright, Little, Randell, Sherring, Moxey, Lewis.
- Torquay subs: MacDonald, Buse, Andrews, Waters, Kimpioka.
7’ Johnson is booked for Pools
More pressure here from Torquay, they almost break, Johnson with the foul and he is booked after just 7 minutes.
He will have to be careful now.
8’ Torquay thought they’d scored but it is ruled out
Big let off for Pools there. Torquay fans thought they’d scored. Free kick finds Cameron whose header is past James but the goal is disallowed. A big let off, replays suggest it was a soft foul.
Chance! Oates with the first sight on goal for Pools
A long distance effort, saved by Covolan, he spilled it but nobody following it in.
16’ Armstrong sees an effort go over!
Oh so close, there. Holohan with a scuffed effort, Armstrong steered it goalwards but it is defected over.
End to end here at times. Still goalless though.
20’ Oates doing well, Armstrong forces another corner
This fame is frantic, end-to-end here. It hasn’t settled at all. Oates doing well, forces another corner.
Meanwhile, Ferguson whips in another cross from the left, Armstrong gets his head to it, saved by Covolan. Corner is then cleared.
Johnson will have to be careful here, on a booking and needs to get through the rest of the game.
25’ Pace still remains fierce here - goalless
Breathless so far here, neither side have stopped since kick-off, end-to-end, a great advert for the National League!
The pitch is looking in good condition given there was a big rugby game on it yesterday. The 6,000 fans inside here are making a tremendous noise. Great atmosphere.
25 minutes gone and it remains goalless here. There has bee plenty of chances though.
30’ Openings at both ends again
Wright and Hall causing problems for the Pools defence, James has been called upon to make a couple of routine saves from tame efforts in the past 5 minutes or so.
Armstrong continues to cause problems up the other end. Pools just need to improve their final ball. The atmosphere is brilliant here, sounds like a lot more than 6,000.