Bristol Rovers and Grimsby Town scored a goal apiece during the opening 45 minutes of this afternoon's Conference Premier playoff final at Wembley.

There was just two minutes on the clock when Grimsby frontman Lenell John-Lewis, who is celebrating his 26th birthday today, broke the deadlock.

The striker's initial effort was blocked, but he managed to stab the ball beyond Will Puddy in the Rovers goal at the second attempt.

Puddy was then involved in the game's next big talking point in the 19th minute when he raced off his line to confront Ollie Palmer.

The Grimsby attacker went for goal with a lobbed effort, which Puddy, who was outside of his area, blocked using his hands. Yet, much to the disappointment of the Grimsby players, he was only cautioned for the offence.

Then, in the 29th minute, Grimsby's mood was further dampened as Rovers drew themselves level at 1-1.

The Mariners failed to clear a corner and were duly punished when Wales Under-21 international Ellis Harrison reacted quickest to beat James McKeown.

That goal put Rovers in the ascendancy and they went close to scoring a second goal two minutes before the break, but Andy Monkhouse could only scuff his effort straight at McKeown from a narrowing angle.