National League playoff final referee subbed off with CRAMP in extra-time of dramatic tie at Wembley

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REFEREE Elliot Bell had to be substituted with cramp during the National League play-off final.

Shortly after half-time of extra-time in the contest between Southend and Oldham, the whistler had be replaced by fourth official Aaron Bannister.

Referee Elliot Bell was forced off with cramp[/caption]

Bell pulled up with cramp in the 107th minute of the match, trudging over to the touchline to be subbed.

Southend had led 2-1 at the time, courtesy of Leon Chambers-Parillon’s goal barely a minute into extra time.

Within three minutes of Bell being replaced, Oldham dramatically equalised courtesy of veteran forward James Norwood.

The Latics completed their comeback less than two minutes later, taking the lead as Kian Harratt’s cross flew all the way in.

Southend piled men forward as they desperately hunted an equaliser.

But following three minutes of stoppage time, Bannister blew up – confirming Oldham’s promotion back to the EFL.

Earlier in the game, Bell had awarded the Latics a penalty.

Manny Monthe, who had scored an own goal in the fifth minute, was pulled down by Ben Goodliffe – with Joe Garner netting the subsequent spot kick.

Yorkshireman Bell shows a yellow card during the National League play-off final[/caption]

Bell had been taking charge of his first match in 18 days.

His last assignment had been Leyton Orient‘s League One play-off semi-final second leg triumph over Stockport On May 14.

Prior to that, Bell had been the man in the middle for Swansea‘s 3-3 draw with Oxford on May 3.

Bell, from Yorkshire, took charge of 33 games during the 2024-25 season.

Of these, 24 were in the Championship – with two in League One, four in League Two and a pair of League Cup ties.

Bell previously took charge of the 2020 National League play-off final between Harrogate and Notts County.

Aaron Bannister took over from Elliot Bell[/caption]