An extra-time goal by Michael O’Regan kept Gloucester City’s hopes of returning to the National League alive on a thrilling night of football.

The 24-year-old defender was in the right place at the right time to fire home from close range and secure a 3-2 win over a gallant Poole Town side last night.

He struck in the 111^th minute to spark huge celebrations among the vast majority of the 2,400 fans. 

It was actually the first time that Gloucester had been in front in the Southern League Premier Division South semi-final play-off tie with the visitors going ahead in the first half before Rylie Siddall levelled with a fine goal before the break.

Poole regained the lead in the second half and it was an agonising time for the home fans until the ever-reliable Joe Hanks scored six minutes from time to take the game into extra-time.

“It was an amazing night, euphoric,” said Gloucester striker Kane Simpson. “To come from behind twice in normal time, it was so good.”

And the 29-year-old, who helped Merthyr Town to win the Southern League Premier Division South title last season, was always confident they would pull through.

“Time was getting on but we always knew we were still it," he said. "We’ve got so many goals in this team and we never give up. The crowd was behind us all the way.”

And Simpson was delighted for O’Regan.

“Who’d have thought he was a centre-back, the way he scored his goal,” Simpson said. “He took it like a striker.

"We needed a goal and he came up trumps.”

Gloucester will now travel to Farnham Town – 2-1 winners over Berkhamsted last night – for the play-off final on Monday (3pm) and a place in National League North or South next season.

Selected other results - National League play-off: Boreham Wood 1 Forest Green Rovers 0.

Southern League Division One South play-off semi-final: Malvern Town 2 Bishop's Cleeve 1.