Summary

  • Newport into League Two play-off final after 5-4 win on aggregate over Forest Green after extra time

  • Substitute Maynard scores 119th-minute goal to win tie and send Exiles to Wembley

  • Newport brought 2-0 lead to Gloucestershire after victory in first leg on Tuesday

  • Rovers level tie within eight minutes thanks to goals from Adams and Collins, Cadden free-kick puts them in front

  • Ellison becomes oldest player to play and score in play-offs, aged 42, to level tie; Labadie fires Newport 4-3 up on aggregate

  • Matt levels tie at 4-4 on aggregate for Rovers with two minutes of normal time left

  • Newport will play Morecambe at Wembley on Monday, 31 May

  • Get involved at #bbcefl

  1. KICK-OFFpublished at 45 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport County get us under way having made two changes as Joss Labadie and Ryan Taylor replace Anthony Hartigan and Padraig Amond.

    There's 45 minutes left for one side to take their place at Wembley.

    If we are all-square at the end of 90 minutes we will go to extra time - away goals do not count in the play-offs.

    Judging by this rain nobody wants an extra 30 minutes, let alone penalties!

  2. City celebrate the titlepublished at 19:34 British Summer Time 23 May 2021

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Manchester CityImage source, EPA

    Elsewhere Manchester City have been officially crowned Premier League champions.

    In what was Sergio Aguero's final game for City his side beat Everton 5-0 with the Argentine striker scoring twice.

    He has ended his career with 184 goals in 275 Premier League games for City since he joined in 2011.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 23 May 2021

    #bbcefl

    Owain Evans: Baffling by this referee - books Aaron Collins for diving, then he goes down softly again where he says no penalty - why is one a yellow and the other not? No wonder there's so much diving in football.

  4. Postpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 23 May 2021

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Should Forest Green go on to make Wembley they will be just the third side to recover from a two-goal deficit to make the League Two play-off final.

    The last side to do it was Northampton Town last season, when they won 3-0 at Cheltenham Town after losing the first leg 2-0 at home.

    The Cobblers went on to get promoted to the third tier last season - possibly an omen should the men from Gloucestershire do it.

  5. Play-off schedulepublished at 19:24 British Summer Time 23 May 2021

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Next weekend sees the culmination of arguably the most difficult season in the history of the English Football League with Wembley hosting three play-off finals in three days.

    Saturday sees the big one as Brentford take on Swansea City for a money-spinning promotion to the bright lights of the Premier League.

    A day later Lincoln City go for a third promotion in six years as they face Blackpool for a spot in the Championship.

    Bank Holiday Monday will have the winners of this evening's between Forest Green and Newport County fixture go up against Morecambe as they look for promotion to League One.

  6. HALF-TIMEpublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 23 May 2021

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    A one-minute smash-and-grab raid has got Forest Green back into this tie as Ebou Adams and Aaron Collins scored within 60 seconds to level the tie on aggregate early in the half.

    But for much of this half Newport have been the better side and actually have created more chances.

    But right at the end the hosts almost went 3-0 up on the night when Collins' effort came back off the bar.

    A entertaining first 45 minutes in the rain.

    Ebou Adams scores for Forest GreenImage source, Getty Images
  7. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 45+1

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Forest Green go close. Aaron Collins powers into the box but his shot takes a nick off defender and onto the bar.

  8. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    We will have two minutes of additional time.

  9. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Ebou Adams wins a free kick on the edge of the box for Forest Green.

    But Nicky Cadden blasts it low and outside of the near post - nothing to worry Newport.

  10. YELLOW CARDpublished at 41 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Controversial this one.

    A rare Forest Green break forward sees Aaron Collins through on goal, his touch goes around goalkeeper Tom King and he goes down.

    But he's not touched by the keeper. Whether it was a dive or the wet conditions that made his slip, either way he is in the book.

  11. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport's confidence is up - some lovely one and two-touch passing in midfield sets up Mickey Demetriou on the left, but his ball forward is a poor one and is out for a goal kick.

  12. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    A stat has just popped up on the screen - 1% of the action has been in the Newport defensive third in the past 10 minutes.

    Tells you how well County have got back into this game, but it is still all square on aggregate.

    Forest Green v NewportImage source, Rex Features
  13. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Mickey Demeitriou's long throw from the clearance flashes across the face of the Forest Green goal.

    It's flicked on and Lewis Collins feels he was fouled in the box, but the referee says no penalty.

    Newport then blaze an effort over the bar - Liam Shephard with the effort this time.

    The visitors are very much on top at the moment.

  14. Postpublished at 32 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Free kick for Newport on the left flank.

    Ryan Haynes' cross from the left hits Kane Wilson's arm.

    But the free kick from Josh Sheehan is easily headed away.

  15. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Close for Newport.

    Lovely bit of play down the right and Mickey Demetriou glances a header just wide of the far post after a teasing cross.

    The best effort from the Welsh side so far.

  16. Postpublished at 28 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Josh Sheehan's corner curls out of play before it comes back in - goal kick.

    A waste for Newport.

  17. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport have had a decent spell of possession over the past few minutes.

    They seem a lot more comfortable on the ball with Josh Sheehan pulling a few strings in midfield.

    A decent cross is cleared for a Newport corner.

  18. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport's Aaron Lewis has another long throw into the box cleared by Jamille Matt

    Anthony Hartigan then has a decent-looking long-range effort from about 25 yards but it swerves over the bar.

  19. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport seem to be lacking ideas at the moment.

    A hopeful high ball is easily cleared after a few passes around the defence.

    They will have to do better against a home back line that looks very comfortable.

  20. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Newport County (2-2 agg)

    Newport are starting to get a bit of a foothold into this game.

    They have strung together a couple of good spells of possession and put a few balls into the box.

    They must be shell-shocked after that 60-second goalfest.

    Ebou Adams celebratesImage source, Getty Images