Grimsby fight back to seal EFL return with extra-time win over Solihull Moors

Jordan Maguire-Drew scored an extra-time winner as Grimsby Town secured an immediate return to the Football League with a dramatic National League play-off final win over Solihull Moors.

Grimsby saw two penalty appeals waved away in the first half of normal time at the London Stadium. First, Jordan Cropper went down under a challenge from Callum Maycock before John McAtee was caught late by Solihull captain Kyle Storer. The Mariners had the better of the first half, but fell behind just before the break.

Solihull took the lead through Kyle Hudlin on the stroke of half-time, with the tall striker heading home from Joe Sbarra’s cross. Grimsby levelled in the 69th minute, top scorer McAtee finishing neatly from Andy Smith’s through ball. That meant extra-time for a third game in a row for Grimsby, after beating Notts County and Wrexham over 120 minutes.

The breakthrough came with nine minutes remaining before penalties, as the Solihull defence failed to deal with a long throw. Maguire-Drew pounced to seal victory and return Grimsby, who finished sixth in the National League table, back to the Football League at the first time of asking.