League Two play-offs: Forest Green Rovers 4-3 Newport County - Exiles win 5-4 on aggregate on extraordinary night
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Kevin Ellison celebrates after his fabulous goal revived Newport's hopes of progressing to the final
Newport County will face Morecambe in the League Two play-off final after an extraordinary 5-4 aggregate victory over Forest Green Rovers.
Nicky Maynard struck in the 119th minute to send Newport to Wembley.
Ebou Adams and Aaron Collins had wiped out the Exiles' 2-0 first-leg lead before Nicky Cadden put Forest Green 3-2 up in the second leg.
Kevin Ellison and Joss Labadie replied for Newport before Jamille Matt sent the game into extra time.
Newport had started what turned into an epic evening as firm favourites to progress thanks to last Tuesday's first-leg triumph, when goals from Matt Dolan and Lewis Collins had put them in charge of the tie.
Yet their advantage disappeared amid an early Forest Green storm, with Adams rising high at the near post to flick home Cadden's corner.
With Newport still reeling, Forest Green scored a second just 59 seconds later as Baily Cargill crossed invitingly from the left for Aaron Collins.
The Newport-born forward - and older brother of County player Lewis - volleyed goalwards with just enough power to beat Tom King, who might have done better.
Newport regrouped and came close to restoring their aggregate lead when Mickey Demetriou headed just past the post.
Aaron Collins was booked for diving as he tumbled despite no contact from King in the penalty area, before his shot ricocheted off the sliding Demetriou onto the crossbar in the last act of a breathless first half.
Forest Green went ahead in the tie for first time when Cadden's free-kick - which was a cross rather than a shot - missed everyone and curled inside King's far post.
Ebou Adams celebrates scoring the first of seven goals in a memorable play-off semi-final second leg
The goal might have been disallowed as Adams, who came close to getting a touch and therefore appeared to be interfering with play, was offside when the set-piece was taken.
Newport dug deep once more and responded thanks to 42-year-old Ellison, who became the oldest goalscorer in play-off history thanks to a glorious dipping effort from 25 yards which went in off the bar.
Fellow substitute Labadie then looked to have won the tie for the visitors when he met Ryan Haynes' cross with a classy left-foot finish, but Matt - who like Aaron Collins is a former Newport player - sent the contest into extra time as he touched home from Odin Bailey's low centre.
Maynard wasted a big chance in the opening minutes of the added period, but he made no mistake at the death as he flicked the ball over Rovers keeper Luke McGee and forced it home from close range.
Interim Forest Green Rovers boss Jimmy Ball:
"I'm proud and heartbroken all at the same time. Amazing performance, a wonderful group of men who are over in that dressing room now absolutely heartbroken.
"But when you ask men to go to the well and to bare their souls and give everything they've got and they do, it's an incredible feeling.
"So mixed emotions. I hope everyone was entertained. I hope the fans coming in for their first game of the season saw a team play with bravery and take risks and leave it all out there and put it all on the line.
"We didn't achieve our goal, which is disappointing, but it gives a bit of hope."
Newport manager Mike Flynn:
"We got off to the worst possible start. I think if we'd tried to get off to that start we wouldn't have!
"The manner of the goals we conceded I am not happy with - I think all four were from crosses.
"But the way we finished the game - we looked strong and that's a credit to the players."
"If we didn't go through, what do you think my press comments would have been? Same old story this season, we haven't taken our chances and killed teams off - that's what it would have been.
"Thankfully we have managed to score enough to get to the final. Let's hope we are saving all the goals for then."
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