1. Kyle Cameron's two disallowed goals.
Had either or both of Kyle Cameron's two disallowed goals been awarded, then it would be Torquay United celebrating a return to the Football League instead of Hartlepool United. Cameron's first effort in the seventh minute was ruled out for a push. His second chance on the hour mark was also chalked off - this time after he was adjudged to have fouled Hartlepool keeper Brad James by referee Simon Mather, after connecting with a cross from Ben Wynter. Cameron appeared to have the beating of James and sent the ball into the back of the net, but referee Mather thought otherwise. If both goals been given, it was would have a second brace of the season for Cameron, who was playing in an unfamiliar position of left wing, as he had previously netted a double in United's 2-0 win over Dover Athletic last October . However, because of Dover's refusal to complete the season the result was expunged from their records.
2. Lucas Covolan's goal.
Torquay's Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan emulated his compatriot Liverpool goalkeeper Allison by scoring a goal in injury time. Allison famously a last gasp winner for the Reds against West Bromwich Albion towards the end of last season and Covolan rose highest to head home a cross from Armani Little in 'Gary-time' - the 95th minute - to take the contest to extra time, and cancel out Luke Armstrong's first half effort for the Pools. Older fans could have been forgiven for drawing parallels with the penalty scoring heroics of Gareth Howells at Wembley in 1991 against Blackpool.
3. Penalty heartbreak.
Extra time came and went and it soon came down to a penalty shoot-out. After the first two penalties, neither side had managed to score, as Billy Waters and Danny Wright both missed for United and Nicky Featherstone's and Luke Armstrong's efforts for the Pools were saved by Lucas Covolan. Asa Hall, Joe Lewis and Armani Little all scored for Torquay and Mark Shelton, Jamie Sterry and Luke Molyneux all converted for Hartlepool to send the shoot-out into sudden death. Danny Elliott then edged Hartlepool in front before Connor Lemonheigh-Evans pulled United level again. Former Plymouth Argyel midfielder Ryan Donaldson then made it 5-4 to Hartlepool and Matt Buse then saw his spot-kick turned onto the cross bar by Brad James - thus sealing victory for Hartlepool.
4. Farewells to Adam, Sam and Benji.
United's Play-off final appearance also looks set to be the last game that Adam Randell, Sam Sherring and Benji Kimpioka feature in a Torquay United shirt, as they prepare to return to their respective parent clubs Plymouth Argyle, AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland. Randell departs Plainmoor having been voted as the club's Young Player of the Year, while Sherring has been a near ever-present in United's defence. Also of particular notice to the Plainmoor faithful will be Gary Johnson's retained list, which is expected to be announced soon now that the 2020-21 campaign is at an end.
5. Hartlepool become the first fourth-placed team to win promotion through the Play-off since the introduction of new format.
Since the National League Play-offs were expanded to include six teams in the 2017-18 season, no team who had finished lower than third place in the regular league season had won promotion through the Play-offs - until Hartlepool became the first team to do so. Several other sides who finished in fourth had won promotion under the old format, including Exeter City (2007-08), Torquay United (2008-09), York City (2011-12) and Grimsby Town (2015-16), but no one had managed it since the introduction of the first eliminator round. Also, with Grimsby Town and Southend United being relegated into the National League from League Two, the case for introducing three up, three down between League Two and the National League will no doubt gather momentum.
6. File under 'near-misses'.
The 2020-21 campaign can now be filed alongside the Gulls' other near misses in the Play-offs. These include the 1987-88 season under Cyril Knowles, where United were beaten by Swansea City over two legs; Don O'Riordan's 1993-94 campaigners who were denied by the antics of Paul Raynor; Kevin Hodges' beaten Play-off finalists of 1997-98; Paul Buckle's 2007-08 team who lost out to Exeter City in the semi-finals and also his side who were beaten by Stevenage at Old Trafford in the 2010-11 League Two final. They were then swiftly followed by Martin Ling's side, who missed out against Cheltenham Town a year later in 2011-12 in the semi-finals.
