‘HARRATT WAS TOO HOT TO HANDLE AS HE GAVE MANSFIELD A TORRID TIME...’
STONE: Early mix up with Gibbons, but retrieved the situation with a save from Murphy. Spilled a ball in the area but Hall cleared off the line. Has played a huge part in getting Vale this far ........................... 7 GIBBONS: Confusion early with Stone, but that apart had a fine game. Threatened with a surging first-half run into the area after swapping passes with Pett. Quality player who proved it again when it mattered. ..................................... 8 SMITH: Another solid performance at the heart of the back three after his outstanding effort in the second leg against Swindon had helped get Vale to Wembley. .......................... 8 HALL: Clearance off the line denied Mansfield a way back into the game. Calm defensive display while a run into the area in the second half showed class on the ball .............. 8 WORRALL: Constant threat from right wing-back. Ran himself into the ground but also delivered plenty of quality. Had a hand in Vale’s second goal and set up Benning for the third after great work down the righthand side .................................... 8 PETT: Looked right at home in the final. Calm, composed and classy in the midfield to help his side control the game ..................................... 8 TAYLOR: Took his opportunity playing alongside Pett in central midfield. Used the ball well, spreading play with some pin-point crossfield passes. Great end to the season for a player who has had so much frustration through injury .............. 8
GARRITY: From Warrington Town to promotion at Wembley with Port Vale within three years. Never stopped running, as has been the case all season. A huge threat in the attacking midfield role. His header hit the bar before Wilson netted the rebound ....................... 8 BENNING: Excellent against his former club to continue his recent form. Set up Harratt’s opener, went close to scoring in the first half then confirmed Vale’s victory with a sliding volley for the third five minutes from time .................................. 8.5 HARRATT: Fine performance in his last game against Swindon – and even better here as he never gave the Mansfield defence a moment’s peace. Put Vale in front with a diving header and was only denied a second by the offside flag. The Stags couldn’t handle him ..................... 8 WILSON: Superb. Official man of the match and understandably so after a classy performance throughout. Had a hand in the first goal with a lovely through-ball to Benning, first
to react to score the second when Garrity’s header came off the bar, and came close with a free-kick just wide ............................................ 9
SUBSTITUTES CHARSLEY (for Taylor, 67): Made sure there was no drop off in Vale’s performance as he helped get them over the line with a dynamic performance against old club ................ 7 PROCTOR (for Harratt, 77): Great to see him help the Vale win at Wembley having done so much to get the team this far. .................... 7 MARTIN (for Worrall, 86): On for the final moments to ensure there was no way back for Nigel Clough’s Mansfield ................................... 7 Not used: Covolan, Amoo, Robinson, Edmondson
MANSFIELD TOWN: Bishop, Mclaughlin, Hewitt, Murphy (Lapslie, 54), Bowery, Hawkins, Perch, Quinn (Akins, 79) Oates, O’toole, Longstaff (Maris, 65). Substitutes not used: Clarke, Wallace, Stech, Stirk.