Grimsby Town showed they are quickly adapting to life in the National League as they came from behind to beat fellow promotion hopefuls Torquay United at Plainmoor.
Torquay United finally got their season up and running with victory at Maidenhead – but they were made to sweat every inch of the way with the Magpies rallying back from three goals down to set uip a thrilling finish.
Gary Johnson hailed a draw ‘that was as good as a win’ as his stubborn, well organised side refused to buckle after losing defender Ali Omar to a red card in the 25th minute at Meadow Lane.
Last week’s NLP reported new National League chairman Jack Pearce acknowledging the board needs to show more transparency and address independence, while our manager Gary Johnson was making a plea for a restructuring of promotion between the National League and EFL.
The Gulls manager was denied a seventh promotion of his career on penalties as Hartlepool United held their nerve to win promotion to the Football League.
Relegation from the Football League in 2017 had seen the club bottom out. Beset by off-field issues, their first two seasons in Non-League resulted in 15th and 17th placed finishes, respectively.
The Gulls were at the lowest ebb in their history during that September of 2018 following relegation to National League South and then winning just three of their first nine games which led to the departure of manager Gary Owers.
Danny Wright has drawn comparisons between the 2015 National League champions Cheltenham Town and Torquay United as he bids for a second top-flight promotion.
Johnson, 65 and gunning for his seventh promotion as a manager, even joked it’s about time he shared his salary with striker Wright after his two goals helped the Gulls on their way.
The Torquay manager spent nearly five seasons in charge of the Robins taking them from League Two to the 2008 Championship play-off final, where they lost at Wembley to Hull City.
Despite creating a host of chances, the Gulls couldn’t break down a resolute Ravens’ side, who are now one point adrift of the top seven – and now manager Gary Johnson is focusing his attentions on next Sunday’s showdown with Stockport County.
There is nothing like a late winner to produce a buzz around the Torquay United dressing room – but Scott Boden has urged his teammates to keep their feet on the ground ahead of a tense title run-in.
After trailing by two goals, United pulled one back through Connor Lemonheigh-Evans before they found themselves a man down after sub Josh Umerah received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, only 20 minutes after coming on.