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.
FT: We head into extra time
Dave Challinor has been speaking passionately to his players during the break, he then gave a big thumbs up and smile as he walked back to the bench. Keep the faith. 30 minutes to go here then. And then possibly penalties.
How are Pools doing?
Pools are looking tired here, they need to dig in with all the momentum with Torquay after that late goal.
The replays don’t look great for James, he didn’t need to come for that long ball in and got nowhere near it. Pool fans a little flat over on the far side. All still to play for.
Both sets of players looking tired now
Break in play here, the players are getting some fluid on board. It has been a fairly even extra-time so far. Could see one more change each side now we’re in extra time.
Back underway now
It was Jake Andrews, their No11 who had suffered the injury and was taken off on a stretcher. On comes Matt Buse to replace him.
We are now playing an additional four minutes in the first half of extra-time. The Pools players have given it their all but looking tired now.
Pools have one more sub to make, Killip and Molyneux on the bench.
We are back underway here, Luke Molyneux will be coming on shortly
All still to play for here, the Pools fans are giving the players their full backing, Pools considering their final sub, with Luke Molyneux to come on here.
We still have 13 minutes or so to play here, will we get a winner in extra-time? If not, it’s penalties.
Five minutes to go here
Not much to report in way of chances this half, we have around five minutes to go here. Still 1-1. Will there be one late twist? If not, we go to penalties. It is too much to bear!
The Pools bench spoke to Molyneux at length in the break but he is yet to come on.