AFC Bournemouth
Sam Sherring and Torquay United suffered play-off heartbreak as Hartlepool United pipped them to a place in the Football League on Sunday.
Defender Sherring started as the Gulls did battle with Pools in the National League promotion final in front of a restricted crowd of 6,606 at Ashton Gate.
The 21-year-old, who was named in the team of the season by sponsors Vanarama, made his 49th appearance for Gary Johnson’s team.
But an incident-packed contest, which saw Gulls goalkeeper Lucas Covolan score a dramatic injury-time equaliser to make it 1-1, was eventually settled on penalties.
Sherring was unable to steer the ball home following a frantic goalmouth scramble which ensued after Armani Little’s corner had struck a defender inside the opening two minutes.
Torquay were convinced they had taken the lead in the seventh minute when Kyle Cameron headed home Adam Randell’s free-kick, only for referee Simon Mather to controversially rule out the effort for an apparent push.
Although the Gulls dominated possession in the early stages, they were thankful to Sherring for preventing Gavan Holohan’s teasing ball from reaching Luke Armstrong.
Armstrong twice went close to breaking the deadlock before he drew first blood for Pools, rifling past Covolan from close range in the 35th minute.
Cameron had another effort chalked off on the hour having been deemed to have fouled Pools goalkeeper Brad James, another decision which infuriated the Gulls.
However, a dramatic finale to normal time came when Covolan, who had stayed upfield after initially going up for a corner, rose highest to head Little’s cross past James in the fourth minute of added time.
Extra-time failed to find a winner and Covolan continued his heroics by saving Pools’ first two penalties of the shootout from Nicky Featherstone and Armstrong.
But his exploits proved in vain as Billy Waters slipped and saw his effort go wide before Danny Wright struck the upright with his spot-kick.
Successful conversions from Asa Hall, Joe Lewis and Little for the Gulls and Mark Shelton, Jamie Sterry and Luke Molyneux for Pools took the shootout to sudden death.
Danny Elliott and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans netted to make it 4-4 before Ryan Donaldson beat Covolan to leave Matt Buse under immense pressure.
And Torquay’s dreams of a return to the Football League following a seven-year absence were dashed when his penalty was parried on to the crossbar by James.
Hartlepool will join National League champions Sutton United in League Two next season after four years in non-league.
With thanks to sponsor UPN for their support.
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