As it happened: Morecambe 1-0 Newport County in the League Two Play-Off Final

That's all we have time for here on Vavel!

Thank you for joining us for today's coverage of the League Two play-off final between Morecame and Newport County.

Congratulation to the Shrimps on reaching League One for the first time.

Commiserations to Newport, who will be feeling massively hard done by.

See you next time!

 

Check out Vavel's match report for the game written by our man at Wembley, Lewis Browning!

https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/05/31/1073164-morecambe-1-0-newport-shrimps-promoted-to-league-one-after-wembley-victory.html

 

The whistle goes and Morecambe are promoted to League One! Mendes Gomes' penalty in extra-time is enough.

They will play in the third tier for the first time in their 101-year history!

Newport keeper Tom King came forward for a late corner. The ball was going towards him but was headed away just in time.

Morecambe nearly there.

Morecambe now just three minutes away from promotion to League One!

Demetriou sends a long throw into the Morecambe box and the ball lands at Ellison, but he's unable to sort his feet out and can't get a shot away.

Morecambe's goalscorer Mendes Gomes is replaced by Alex Kenyon.

Morecambe's John O'Sullivan is shown a yellow card, as was Mendes Gomes for his celebration after scoring the penalty.

Newport make their final change of the afternoon as Ryan Haynes is replaced by Priestley Farquharson.

Definitely a lot of controversy around the awarding of the penalty.

Not only is it debatable whether it was a foul by Haynes, the contact appeared to begin outside the box!

Morecambe take the lead in extra-time!

Mendes Gomes stepped up and sent King the wrong way.

Morecambe are awarded a penalty as O'Sullivan goes down under Haynes' challenge!

Morecambe make another change for the second half of extra-time as Kelvin Mellor replaces Liam Gibson.

Labadie's chance by far the best of the game as we still have nothing between the sides going into the second half of extra-time.

15 minutes away from a penalty shootout unless there's a winner.

Newport miss a huge chance to go ahead!

Maynard plays the ball across goal and it comes to Labadie, who pokes over from close range!

Massive let off for Morecambe.

Newport captain Joss Labadie is shown the first yellow card for a foul on Yann Songo'o.

Morecambe have the first chance of extra-time as the ball comes into the box and finds Stockton, who heads wide.

Wasn't an easy chance for the striker.

Morecambe get us back underway here for extra-time!

Morecambe make their second change going into extra-time as John O'Sullivan replaces Aaron Wildig.

Still nothing to separate the sides after normal time so we are in for another 30 minutes at Wembley.

Will there be an extra-time hero?

Newport win another free-kick and this time it's taken by Ryan Haynes. 

It bounces awkwardly in front of Letheren but the Morecambe goalkeeper was there again to keep his side level!

We are into five minutes of added time here at Wembley!

Extra-time on the way unless someone can make themselves a hero.

Newport are controversially awarded a free-kick which is played short to Josh Sheehan, who lashes over from distance.

Newport make their fourth change and it's the moment people have waited for!

Former Morecambe man Kevin Ellison replaces Lewis Collins.

Morecambe get a corner and it's sent in by Aaron Wildig. It comes to captain Sam Lavelle, whose header goes wide.

A third change for Newport as their semi-final hero Nicky Maynard replaces Padraig Amond.

Newport continue to have the better moments as this time Liam Shephard has an effort from distance.

It's heading into the far corner but Letheren makes a good save.

Morecambe make their first change as Liam McAlinden is replaced by Brad Lyons.

We have another break in play as the players take their second drinks break of the afternoon.

 

Morecambe's Ryan Cooney strikes from outside the box and it's an awkward one for King, but the Newport shot-stopper is able to keep it out.

Newport make the first substitutions of the game. 

Aaron Lewis makes way for Ryan Taylor, while Matt Dolan is replaced by Anthony Hartigan.

We have a shot! 

In this cagey second-half Newport's Josh Sheehan decides to have a go from distance. It's comfortably held though by Letheren.

Not many openings for either side at the start of the second half. 

Will we see some substitutions soon as the wait for a goal goes on?

Newport win a corner and it's played short towards Amond, but Stockton is there to clear.  Lewis Collins then has a go which is deflected off Lavelle and into the arms of Letheren.

We are back underway at Wembley as Morecambe get the second half going!

Nothing to separate the sides at half-time.

Newport have come the closest and were perhaps unfortunate to not be awarded a penalty.

Still all to play for in the second half!

Newport look for the opener just before half-time as Bennett has a go from the edge of the box, but Yann Songo'o does well to block it and the ball hits the side netting.

The first half coming to a close at Wembley as three extra minutes are added on!

Mendes Gomes finds Liam Gibson, whose shot from inside the box is blocked by Liam Shephard!

Would have been some effort to find the net as plenty of Newport men were behind the ball.

Applause from both sets of fans and players for former Morecambe man Christian Mbulu, who sadly passed away just over a year ago.

Newport come forward and the ball reaches former Morecambe man Padraig Amond. He gets a shot away but it's blocked out for a corner.

A long ball comes into the Newport box and heads towards Stockton, but King does well to clear the ball out for a Morecambe corner.

A break in play as the players take a drinks break. 26 degrees at Wembley so a sensible idea!

No goals to report so far but an exciting contest at Wembley.

End to end action with both sides pushing for the opener.

McAlinden delivers a cross and finds the head of Stockton, who directs it goalwards but it's blocked by his own man in Mendes Gomes!

Mickey Demetriou delivers another long throw into the box and finds the head of Scot Bennett, but it's just off target! 

Newport also denied a penalty as Letheren appeared to have caught Bennett.

Newport now have a chance to test Kyle Letheren as a long throw comes into the box from Mickey Demetriou. 

The ball is comfortably gathered by the Shrimps' keeper.

Morecambe push forward again and the ball goes towards Liam McAlinden, but Tom King is first to it and clears the danger.

Morecambe win an early free-kick after a foul on Carlos Mendes Gomes. The ball is played short to the winger and he has an effort but it's wide of goal.

Newport get us underway for the 2021 League Two play-off final!

Both sides are out on the Wembley pitch as we observe the English and Welsh national anthems!

Kick-off coming shortly!

 

Kick-off is now fast approaching at Wembley for today's League Two play-off final between Morecambe and Newport!

Who will be victorious and gain a place in League One next season?

You will find out right here on Vavel!

 

 

 

Just the one change as captain Joss Labadie returns to the side in place of Anthony Hartigan.

Only a place on the bench for Kevin Ellison and Nicky Maynard despite their goals in the second-leg at Forest Green Rovers.

The Shrimps name an unchanged side from the second-leg against Tranmere. 

21-year-old Ryan Cooney keeps his place at right-back ahead of Kelvin Mellor, who remains on the bench.

And here is the Newport lineup!

 

Here's the Morecambe team for today's game!

 

We are now less than 10 minutes away from the confirmed team news!

Will 42-year-old Newport man Kevin Ellison make the lineup against his former side?

Stay tuned to find out!

Here's the combined lineup with players from both sides, measured by WhoScored's ratings!

Morecambe edge it with six players.

 

Vavel's Lewis Browning is in attendance at Wembley today covering the action. 

Here's his view for the game!

 

 

Morecambe will be looking to beat Newport for the first time in four attempts. 

The Shrimps have lost the last three meetings, most recently a 3-1 home defeat in March.

However, in total they have met 16 times, and Morecambe have won seven to Newport's five.

 

 

 

 

Welcome back to our live coverage of today's League Two play-off final between Morecambe and Newport County!

We will have the team news from both sides just after 2pm. 

 

We will be back tomorrow afternoon to provide you with more pre-match build-up, the confirmed lineups and updates throughout. 

See you then!

Have a read of our preview for the game written by Gabriel Ramsey. 

Gabriel provides the predicted lineups, team news, ones to watch and the pre-match comments from both sides!

https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2021/05/26/1072693-morecambe-vs-newport-county-preview-how-to-watch-kick-off-time-predicted-lineups-team-news-form-guide-pre-match-comments-and-ones-to-watch.html

If you want to watch the game on TV, it will be available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. 

However, if you are unable to watch and want to follow live updates, right here on Vavel is the place for you!

Newport have no fresh injury concerns but there will be some difficult decisions for Michael Flynn. 

Kevin Ellison, Joss Labadie and Nicky Maynard all scored off the bench in their thrilling semi-final second-leg against Forest Green Rovers. 

The trio will be hoping to have worked their way into the starting lineup at Wembley.

Morecambe will be without Stephen Hendrie after he sustained an ankle injury in the first leg of their semi-final against Tranmere. 

Kelvin Mellor only made the bench in the second leg following his suspension and Ryan Cooney is likely to keep the right-back spot. 

The Exiles have lost three of their last four games at Wembley, with the most recent being the 2019 League Two play-off final against Tranmere Rovers (Sky Sports). 

They lost 1-0 that day and haven't played in the third tier since the 1986/87 season. 

The Shrimps will be out to make history at Wembley as they look to reach the third tier of English football for the first time (Sky Sports). 

They were victorious on their last visit in the 2007 Conference play-off final, beating Exeter City 2-1.

The match will be played at Wembley Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 15:00 BST!

Welcome to Vavel's coverage of the 2021 League Two play-off final between Morecambe and Newport County!

My name is Dale Winfield and I'll be your host for this game.

We will provide you with pre-match build-up, team news, information about how to watch and live updates throughout the game!