Dolan and Day the heroes as Newport reach League Two play-off final

Posted Monday, May 13, 2019 by PA

Hero substitute Matt Dolan sent underdogs Newport to Wembley with the match-winning penalty kick in the Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final second leg at Mansfield.

After a 1-1 first-leg draw at Rodney Parade on Thursday, the two sides could not be separated at the One Call Stadium after 120 minutes, with a goalless draw leading to the shootout.

After Joe Day saved Mansfield’s third kick from Tyler Walker, Dolan was able to seal a 5-3 win on penalties as he sent Conrad Logan the wrong way.

A thrilling game saw chances galore, with Newport twice rattling the bar, great saves from both keepers and a crucial goal-line clearance from Regan Poole.

Newport completely dominated the first half and wasted several chances to take the lead, while the home side failed to register a shot on target.

Conrad Logan initially turned away a low 25-yard shot from Josh Sheehan after 12 minutes, with the midfielder volleying inches wide 10 minutes later.

Midway through the half Jamille Matt found Padraig Amond in space to his right, only for the striker to fire tamely into the sidenetting.

Six minutes before the break a long Mickey Demetriou throw landed in the area where Joss Labadie headed against the bar from close range.

The best chance was on the stroke of half-time but an unmarked Amond remarkably headed over from six yards from Butler’s free kick with the goal at his mercy.

The Stags switched to three up front for the second half, leading to chances as Tyler Walker and Danny Rose sent early shots over the bar before Logan was forced to get down smartly to block a low Mark O’Brien shot at the other end.

The visitors again built up a head of steam and twice came desperately close, with Scott Bennett beating Logan with a magnificent 35-yard screamer only to see it hit the bar before Logan made a superb save to keep out a Sheehan shot heading for the top corner.

Mansfield responded. with Ben Turner forcing two saves from Day in quick succession from headers in the 67th minute, with the County keeper turning away a Walker shot four minutes later.

Walker wasted the home side’s best chance five minutes from the end of normal time as he fired wide from 12 yards with a clear sight of goal.

Rose was then inches wide with a glancing header from a Malvind Benning cross three minutes later as the game went into extra time.

Chris Hamilton wasted two early chances, twice firing over from good positions, while Day made a great save to deny Walker, with Poole blocking Rose’s follow up on the line.

In the second period, Walker was wide with a six-yard header, leading to the shootout and joy for Newport and heartbreak for Mansfield.