COBBLERS ADD TO GRECIANS' PLAY OFF WOES

Exeter City were condemned to a third play-off final defeat in the space of four years, as Northampton Town hit four goals past the ten-man Grecians in front of an empty Wembley Stadium.

The Grecians trailed by two goals at half-time through Ryan Watson and Torquay-born Callum Morton; and their misery was compounded on 59 minutes when left-back Dean Moxey for a lunge on Ryan Watson - scorer of the Cobblers' opening goal.Further goals from former Yeovil Town forward Sam Hoskins then made it three with ten minutes to go and experienced striker Andy Williams - another former Glover - completed the scoring in the 89th minute.

Watson's deflected strike in the 17th minute gave the lead before West Bromwich Albion loanee Callum Morton, who one-time Cobblers' boss Gary Johnson was close to signing for Torquay United on loan in January, doubled the Cobblers' advantage in the 31st minute.

The Grecians had keeper Jonny Maxted to thank as he made a string of fine saves to keep the Cobblers to bay. Leading scorer Ryan Bowman found himself through on goal on the stroke of half time, but the ball bounced off his leg and went behind for a goal kick.

Any hopes City had of making a comeback were extinguished in the 59th minute when Moxey saw red for his challenge on Watson.

Their misery was further compounded in the final ten minutes as Hoskins side footed home on 80 minutes before Williams within a minute of coming off the bench to replace Morton in the 89th minute.

So instead of being a first promotion for Grecians manager Matt Taylor, it was a first promotion for Northampton manager Keith Curle. Former Manchester City and England defender Curle, who played for and managed Torquay United, had experienced a play-off final defeat with Mansfield Town in the 2003-04 season and was the Carlisle United manager when the Grecians beat them in the League Two play-off semi-finals in the 2016-17 campaign.

REID BECOMES A STAG

Former Torquay United striker Jamie Reid has swapped the yellow and blue of Torquay United for the yellow and blue of Mansfield Town after agreeing a deal with the Stags.

The former Exeter City starlet, who announced his departure from Plainmoor at the end of the 2019-20 season, has penned a two-year deal with the Nottinghamshire side, who are managed by former Plymouth Argyle defender Graham Coughlan. 

Reid, 25, scored 63 goals in all competitions over four different spells with United between 2015 and 2020, which included three spells on loan from Exeter City - where he started his career. This figure includes his 32-goal haul from the 2018-19 season, which proved to be instrumental in helping United to win the National League South title - the club's first championship for 92 years.

He then followed up that feat by finding the back of the net a further 21 times in all competitions in the 2019-20 campaign as the Gulls marked their return to the National League.

Earlier in his career Reid represented Northern Ireland at Under-21 level, and should he break into the first team at Field Mill he will undoutably attract the attentions of Michael O'Neill's successor as manager of the Northern Irish national side.

EXTRA TIME WINNER SEES GRECIANS THROUGH TO WEMBLEY

A 111th minute goal by Ryan Bowman sealed a third League Two play-off final appearance in the space of four years for Exeter City at the expense of Colchester United.

After trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Grecians equalised on aggregate in the 10th minute when Aaron Martin fired home after Alex Fisher had seen a shot blocked.

On 58 minutes, City edged ahead over the two legs when a weak shot from Jayden Richardson trickled under U's keeper Dean Gerken before a late Courtney Senior effort for the visitors forced the game into extra time.

And it was in extra time that Bowman emerged as the Grecians' hero as he latched onto Archie Collins' through ball and beat the offside trap and fired past Gerken to take City to Wembley.

Standing in the Grecians' way of achieving a place in League Two are Northampton Town who overcame a two-goal deficit from their first leg to beat Cheltenham Town 3-2 on aggregate. The Cobblers are, of course, managed by former Torquay United player and manager Keith Curle, who was also manager of Carlisle United when the Grecians beat the Cumbrians in the play-off semi-finals in the 2016-17 season.

ALL TO PLAY FOR FOR GRECIANS IN SECOND LEG

Exeter City head into next week's League Two play-off semi-final second leg with a one goal deficit following a first leg defeat to Colchester United.

A Cohen Bramall free-kick in the 81st minute proved to be decisive for the U's in what was the first Football League fixture to take place following the suspension of the league in March due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The second leg at St James Park which takes place this coming Monday.

Bramall's effort ultimately turned out to be the highlight in a game of few chances, and in keeping with the two Premier League games which took place on Wednesday the match began with the players and officials 'taking the knee' to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

To reach the League Two play-off finals in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, City enjoyed home advantage in the second leg of their semi-finals against Carlisle United and Lincoln City, which - on both occasions they progressed through to the final. However, with the match set to take place behind closed doors due the Covid-19 pandemic it will be interesting to see if the Grecians can still make home advantage count in the circumstances.

In the other semi-final, Cheltenham Town - one of City boss Matt Taylor's former clubs - currently lead Northampton Town 2-0 on aggregate.

NORTH AND SOUTH PROMOTIONS WILL SEE GULLS RENEW OLD ACQUAINTANCES

After much deliberating, clubs in the the Vanarama National League have backed the proposal that will see the 2019-20 National League and National Leagues North and South campaigns decided by unweighted points per game.

This now means that Barrow will be to the Football League after an absence of 48 years as National League champions, Kings Lynn Town clinch the National League North title ahead of York City and Wealdstone succeed Torquay United as champions of National League South.

King's Lynn and Wealdstone's elevation to the National League will also mean that the Gulls will be renewing a couple of old acquaintances from their recent past.

The National League North winners from Norfolk are managed by former Norwich City right-back Ian Culverhouse have several connections with the Canaries amongst their staff, including former United striker Ryan Jarvis. Many Gulls' fans will remember Jarvis who was brought to Plainmoor by Martin Ling in March 2012. He remained at Plainmoor until the end of the 2012-13 season, after he finished the campaign as United's second top scorer behind Rene Howe with nine goals before he linked up with his former Canaries boss Nigel Worthington at York. Nowadays Jarvis appears as a midfielder for the Linnets, and his experience has been beneficial to them in their success of the 2019-20 season.

No doubt every Gulls fans will still have fond memories of United's own National League South title winning campaign of the 2018-19 campaign, which included a league 'double' over Wealdstone. The Gulls beat the Stones 3-0 at the Grosvenor Vale home on October 30, 2018, with goals from George Essuman, Opi Edwards and Jamie Reid on target. United then won the corresponding fixture at Plainmoor on March 30, 2019 3-2 and Kalvin Kalala, Reid (again) and Jean Yves Koue Niate were all on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, the play-offs in National League North and South are set to go ahead "subject to the competition rules and the applicable government guidance on the phased return of elite sport," - in keeping with their National League counterparts - with Altrincham, Chester FC, Brackley Town, Gateshead, York City and Boston United involved in the NLN. In the NLS Slough Town, Dartford, Bath City, Dorking Wanderers, Havant Waterlooville and Weymouth are all set to compete. This will mean several other clubs, including Ebbsfleet United, AFC Fylde and Maidenhead United, could join Chorley in being relegated from the National League.

FIRST PAST THE POST

In the end it was never going to be about finding the best solution to end the 2019-20 season in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, but more a case of choosing an option that was the least worst. 

To decide the outcome of Leagues One and Two the Football League has decided that promotion and relegation will be determined by PPG (Points Per Game) and the play-offs will follow accordingly using the same method to select who qualifies. The use of this option has incensed many within the game, most notably Peterborough United and Tranmere Rovers who were denied promotion and condemned to relegation respectively from League One. So angered by the ruling Peterborough director of football Barry Fry responded by described it as ‘the worst day of my life’ as the Posh missed out on the League One play-offs by 0.02 points. 

The Vanarama National League is set to apply the same formula, and if the vote passes it will see Torquay United move up one place from 15^th to 14^th in the table. For the Gulls who famously rarely do mid-table finishes, the 2019-20 campaign could possibly have chosen the best time for a middle of the road season. 

For example, had the 2005-06 League Two season ended prematurely after United had played their 36th league game then their 'great escape' under Ian Atkins would never have happened. After 36 games in the 2005-06 campaign the Gulls had achieved 33 points from 36 league matches.

Under the PPG rules United would be have found to have achieved an average of 0.91 points per game, which applied to their remaining ten matches would leave them rooted to the foot of the table with 42.1 points - thus condemning them to what would have been their first ever relegation to the from the Football League. United would also have joined in telegation to the Conference by Rushden & Diamonds, who would themselves finish bottom of League Two, with 44.8 points from ana average of 1.08 points per game. Oxford United, who finished 23rd in League Two after being condemned to relegation with a final day defeat to Leyton Orient, would have finished level on 50.05 with Bury and Chester City using this formula. 

As it was United won five of their remaining ten league games, which famously included four wins from their last five - a sequence that included a memorable 2-1 away win over champions elect Carlisle United with Kevin Hill and Jo Kuffour finding the back of the net. 

The current proposals for the National League would see Barrow promoted to the Football League and Kings Lynn and Wealdstone promoted from National League North and South respectively. However, these plans also would see York City - the National League North leaders at the time of the suspension of the season - and Havant and Waterlooville - who were second in the National League South and three points behind Wealdstone - forced to settle for a play-off spot should the play-offs take place. It could also be argued that in the National League Harrogate Town and Notts County might also feel that they possessed a chance of overhauling the Bluebirds. 

Whatever the outcome of the proposed resolution, it is worth sparing a thought for those players, managers, directors and fans who may have felt that their side were capable of completing a turnaround similar to the one the Gulls achieved under Atkins in 2006.

NATIONAL LEAGUE TO DECIDE

After clubs in Leagues One and Two decided to end their respective campaigns under the points-per-game method, their National League counterparts will now decide how to end their respective campaigns this weekend.

The proposals would also see current National League leaders Barrow promoted to the Football League and Kings Lynn and Wealdstone promoted as champions from Step 2 (NLN and NLS). In addition to this the National League's bottom club Chorley would be relegated while there will be no relegation from National League North and South. The use of the PPG system will also see Torquay United move up one place from 15th to 14th and Yeovil Town look set to contest the play-offs, where the Glovers would be set to play Barnet, who rise from 11th to 7th under PPG, in the first stage. 

Should they come from through that game they would then face Notts County for a chance to reach Wembley and secure a return to League Two at the first time of asking. The other three teams that would be contesting the play-offs would be Harrogate Town, FC Halifax Town and Boreham Wood.

Initially the resolution put before member clubs stated that there would be no play-offs at Step 2 level as a government ruling declared that National Leagues North and South were not included as elite sport. However, the proposals for no play-offs in National League North and South has now been removed from the draft resolution which will be voted for on Sunday.

A majority of 51% will need to be in favour of any of the proposals put forward, otherwise there is a risk that the 2019-20 National League season will be declared null and void - thus meaning no promotion or relegation between any of its member leagues or the Football League.

PILGRIMS PROMOTED WHILE GRECIANS PREPARE FOR PLAY-OFFS

Without a ball being kicked in anger Plymouth Argyle will be playing in League One next season after the EFL voted to end the season using the points per game method.

Clubs in Leagues One and Two voted to end the season early and decide their outstanding promotion, play-off and relegation issues using points per game method known as PPG. It was through the use of this system that the Pilgrims ended the campaign in League Two's third and final automatic promotion behind champions Swindon Town and runners-up Crewe Alexandra.

The decision ensures a second successive promotion from League Two for Pilgrims manager Ryan Lowe, who had also repeated the feat in the 2018-19 season with Bury before the Shakers were expelled from the Football League. He now joins a list of Argyle managers who have won promotion from the fourth tier of English football which includes Neil Warnock, Paul Sturrock and Derek Adams.

Meanwhile, Exeter City have a chance of joining Argyle in League One if they can make it through the play-offs. The Grecians face a two-legged semi-final with Colchester United, which take place on June 18th and June 22nd. Should they progress to the final at Wembley they will face either Cheltenham Town or Northampton Town.

DOWN MEMORY LANE #2 MARTIN GRITTON

The life of former Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United striker Martin Gritton is not one that fits with the stereotype of a professional footballer. 

First of all, when he was five-years old, his family relocated from the footballing ‘hot bed’ of Glasgow to the Rugby playing heartland of Cornwall. As a life-long Celtic fan, growing up in a time when the Cornish rugby side were regular visitors to Twickenham for the County Championship final, he developed an appreciation for the oval ball game.

“I loved playing rugby at school growing up, as many of my mates played football so it was all good.  Cornwall had a great Rugby team too, making it to the county championship final a couple of times, about 40,000 made the trip up,” said Gritton. 

He is also one of the select band of individuals to have made a living from professional football who have been university educated. He graduated with a Sports Science Degree from the University of Portsmouth in 1999, and was also selected for the England and British University representative sides. 

“Travelling up and down when I could was a struggle – but Uni football was great fun though. We had a great team and I was lucky enough to get in the England and Britain Uni sides. I scored against Scotland.”

In addition to this, Gritton also combined his studies with playing in the Jewson South Western League for Porthleven, after starting out with his local side, Perranwell.

“We had a great run in the Vase, making it to the Quarter Finals. I scored a few late winners on the run, but we had a cracking team.”

His displays for Porthleven brought him to the attention of Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Hodges who persuaded him to sign for the Pilgrims ahead of the 1998-99 season. During his time at Home Park under Hodges, the Pilgrims won the vast majority of games on their own turf, but struggled to replicate that form on their travels and ended up being confined to mid-table obscurity. 

“I remember striking up a good partnership with Ian Stonebridge and getting a few goals. We had some great players - Paul McGregor and Chris Hargreaves spring to mind, Steve McCall too – it was just a shame we couldn't have had more success.

“I was always grateful to Kevin for giving me my break in professional football. He was and still is a great servant to the football club so it would have been nice for us to have had more joy as a group.”

Following Hodges’s dismissal early in the 2000-01 season, Paul Sturrock was appointed as manager. Gritton found himself out of favour with the former Dundee United favourite and was loaned out to Yeovil Town and League of Ireland side Shelbourne. 

“It was good to go and get experience and I was lucky to meet some great folk at those clubs that I bumped into many times more in the future.”

However, with his career seemingly at a crossroads, he made the short journey to the Pilgrims’ neighbour’s Torquay United as one of Leroy Rosenior’s first signings as Gulls manager.

It was a move that would help to kick-start his career in the game. 

“Personally, Leroy was the best manager I worked with, not only as a man-manager, but how he got the most out of the squad on a budget. Look at some of the players he developed? He seems to be doing OK on telly though doesn't he? I'm sure he could coach if he wanted to. You see how hard it is for managers at that level, I admire the resilience of anyone that wants to do that at a small club and can be successful.”

Initially joining Torquay on loan, he found the target on his debut – a 2-1 home win over Bristol Rovers on the opening day of the 2002-03 season – and later signed for the Gulls on a permanent basis.These were heady times for Torquay as he became part of a roster of strikers that included David Graham and Jo Kuffour, which relied on top quality service from a midfield that featured Alex Russell and Jason Fowler. 

“The Plymouth squad I left was flying, full of good players and beating everything that was in front of them. I was surprised when I turned up at Torquay because there was as much talent in that small squad of players as there was at any other club I've been at. 

“Plymouth were a hard working solid unit that was hard to beat, Torquay had a bit more flair, and the Torquay legends like Hilly (Kevin Hill) and Beds (Tony Bedeau) made it such a unique squad.”

Gritton found the back of the net 16 times in all competitions to ensure that he ended the campaign as the Gulls’ top scorer. He was also runner-up to Russell in the club’s Player of the Year award vote, as Torquay narrowly missed out on the play-offs with a ninth placed finish.The following season proved to be a different proposition as the Gulls won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years.

Torquay needed to beat Southend United on the final day of the 2003-04 season to secure a third-place finish in Division Three at the expense of Huddersfield Town. The Gulls won 2-1 against the Shrimpers at Roots Hall, whilst the Terriers could only draw with Cheltenham Town – thus ensuring that Torquay secured the third and final automatic promotion spot. 

“I didn't play as much as I wanted to that season as I had a bad injury, but scoring away at Hull and winning 1-0 was a good day. The final day at Southend will live long in the memory.”

Midway through the 2004-05 campaign, Gritton left Torquay to join Grimsby Town. This was in the days before the introduction of the transfer window for lower league clubs, and the deal went through on Christmas Eve 2004. 

“The time was right for me to go, it was a great opportunity to go and I loved my time up there, leaving at Christmas was tough - living in a hotel over Christmas and leaving the English Riviera for Cleethorpes was an eye opener!”

He then went on to appear for Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town and Chesterfield before returning to Plainmoor on loan during the 2010-11 season. His return to the Gulls came a year after Torquay won promotion back into the Football League under Paul Buckle. 

“It was a young squad of hungry good players, I would like to have played more - I split my knee open early in the season and couldn't get back in the side, but it was another cracking side that Buckle had assembled. I enjoyed being a part of it in some way for those 6 months. It was nice to see a couple of familiar faces at the place too!”

Gritton returned to the Spireites, who were then managed by current Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan, after making 15 appearances without scoring for the Gulls. A brief spell with Chester FC and a return to Yeovil Town followed before he joined Stockport County and later finished his career back in Cornwall with Truro City in the 2011-12 campaign. 

“I felt I had played my last days in Cornwall at my two favourites clubs, Porthleven and Perranwell, but Lee Hodges was a good friend as a team mate and offered me the chance to play when I left Stockport. I really enjoyed it, with some cracking players that I keep an eye out for still.”

Gritton currently resides in London where he has embarked on a new career in Sports PR. 

An abridged version of this article appeared in the Sunday Independent on March 8, 2015.