Grimsby Town (0) 0
FC Halifax Town (0) 1 McManus 48
Combined Attendance: 46,781
Entrance: £10 Senior
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 100/7,115
Match Report
The opposing team's seasons had been poles apart. Grimsby Town, after five long years away, had gained promotion to the Football League via a play-off victory at Wembley against Forest Green Rovers a week earlier whilst Halifax had suffered relegation from non-league's top tier and into National League North.
Behind each goal the clubs were more evenly matched than the Vase Final with around 10,000 supporting each club.
The first half was a cagey affair, an anti-climax following the captivating Vase game, with very few chances. Halifax's goalkeeper was stretched just the once by a Andy Monkhouse header whilst the league's leading goalscorer, Grimsby's Padraig Amond was kept largely quiet.
The game desperately needed an early second half goal, and what a goal it was when it came just three minutes into the half.
Grimsby, and Craig Disley in particular, failed to clear their lines and Scott McManus, who robbed Disley, curled a beauty into the top corner from 25 yards. It was to be the sweet moment in a bitter-sweet afternoon for McMannus who, 25 minutes later, had to be helped from the Wembley pitch having sustained an knee injury.
Grimsby threw Omar Bogle and Nathan Arnold into the fray in search of an equaliser that wasn't to come. Halifax captain, Nicky Wroe, a stand-out performer, controlled the midfield and blunted any threat the Lincolnshire side had to offer.
Referee Lee Mason blew the final whistle to the joy of the men from Yorkshire and brought my personal curtain down on season 2015-16.
As stated in the posting for the National South play-off Final, this was the first season that I have exceeded 100 games. For a change, my blog heading almost proved correct. Gillingham and Tonbridge were, indeed, competitive but both fell just a little short at the end. Tunbridge Wells had such a turbulent start to the season, that their final resting place in the division could almost be considered a success. Hopefully stability will now reign at Culverden, giving themselves a greater chance for next season.
Highlights were Gillingham's win at Millwall prior to Christmas. Any win at the Den is to be savoured but to thrash them in the manner the Gills did was very sweet. Sadly, the Lions roared last and their win at Priestfield ended any hope of a play-off place.
A very low was the pre-season passing of Junior Dian, something that I hope I will never have to bear witness to again on a football pitch. Out of the despair, Tonbridge Angels Football Club have been magnificent with their Football Fightback Campaign far surpassing their target figure of £26,000 for heart screenings of young footballers.
Champagne moment came with the fantastic winning goal in the Southern Counties East League Cup Final from Glebe's Ryan Golding, an overhead kick in the final moments of extra time. A goal worthy of winning any trophy.
So that's it for That'll Be The Day's season nine and onto the Euros where we will be in Lens for England's group game against Wales, potentially a quarter final and, dare I say it, the Final in Paris.
Have a great summer and I will be ready to go again, pre-season starting 2nd July 2016 at Glebe.
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