Vale dominate to beat Mansfield and secure third-tier status

Wembley was the venue as Port Vale emerged victorious in the League Two play-off final against Mansfield.

Darrell Clarke’s men enjoyed the perfect afternoon to win by three goals to nil and secure their place in the third division of English football next season.

It may not have been all plain sailing had Jamie Murphy finished what proved to be Mansfield’s best chance of the afternoon on nine minutes. The Scot reacted quickly after a communication error between Vale ‘keeper Aiden Stone and James Gibbons but from close range only managed to head straight at the goalkeeper to allow Stone to atone for his mistake.

The game began at a frantic pace as both teams searched for that crucial opener but after a sustained couple of minutes of pressure, Port Vale went in front.

Moments after hitting the post with a curling effort from outside the box, on-loan striker Kian Harratt found the net. Having to adjust to a deflected cross, Harratt fired a diving header past a despairing Nathan Bishop to fire his side ahead.

After the goal, no reaction was found by Nigel Clough’s Stags. Instead, Port Vale swarmed forward attempting to further their credentials as play-off winners.

Four minutes after the opener, Harratt’s strike partner James Wilson would double the lead. Vale wing-back David Worrall, who was exceptional all afternoon, marauded down the right-hand side and crossed.

Ben Garrity’s header looked to be looping into the top corner before the bar obstructed him from finding the net, the ball falling kindly to Wilson who was on hand to head home.

It was the perfect start to any play-off game for Port Vale. After half hour played, they were two goals to the good and things were about to get better.

Mansfield centre-back come striker Oli Hawkins had been cautioned early in the second half for an off the ball incident with a Vale defender, throwing him to the ground via his neck. So when Hawkins stopped the impressive Wilson from launching another counter-attack, referee Jarred Gillett had no choice but to produce a second yellow and put Mansfield down to ten.

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Despite the setback of the red, Mansfield were provided with a chance to halve the deficit and give their travelling supporters a lift before the break. Vale ‘keeper Stone failed to collect a routine delivery from a Stags free-kick to present top scorer Rhys Oates with a chance to score, the 27-yer-old beating the ‘keeper but not the covering Connor Hall who cleared superbly.

With ten men and a two-goal deficit, it really was a mountain to climb in the second half for Mansfield. Nigel Clough’s words may have been to try and stay in the fixture for as long as possible rather than give Vale a third to kill the tie completely.

Chances arrived for Wilson to add another to his tally and midfielder Jake Taylor drove a low effort just past Nathan Bishop’s left-hand post as the hour mark approached.

There was some rallying from Mansfield as a corner brought huge cheers from their fans, understandably so as the leading scorers in League Two off corners.

Unfortunately, any opportunities created from dead balls were wasted and once Oates failed to beat Stone on two separate occasions around the 75-minute mark, time was running out for an unlikely comeback.

Darrell Clarke had clearly noticed a slight shift in momentum as he frantically shouted instructions from the touchline but the Stags were failing to register meaningful attempts at goal despite a positive spell.

Any concerns would be alleviated on 85 minutes as Vale got their third. Worrall did well to keep the ball in by digging out a cross towards the back post.

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His fellow wing-back Mal Benning would arrive on the scene to meet it, brilliantly controlling a volley low into the bottom corner to queue scenes of wild celebrations in the Port Vale end and in the dugout.

Port Vale’s performance was one of dominance at Wembley and Clarke’s side thoroughly deserves their place in the third tier. Mansfield will be bitterly disappointed with how their afternoon unfolded, two goals in quick succession before the red card for Hawkins brought their challenge to a first-half halt.

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