Matt finishes job as Stags suffer shootout misery

MATT DOLAN showed nerves of steel to convert the vital spot kick and send Newport to Wembley at the end of a thrilling League Two play-off semi-final last night. Dolan stepped up to send Mansfield keeper Conrad Logan the wrong way and set up a date with Tranmere or Forest Green. It was heartbreak for Mansfield, whose chances of automatic promotion evaporated in the closing weeks of the season. Newport dominated the first half, with a hat-trick of first half chances falling to Padraig Amond. He hit the side-netting from close range, sent one header just over and another clipped the bar. After that, Mansfield rained efforts on the visitors’ goal. A glorious chance to settle the tie fell to Tyler Walker with five minutes of normal time left but he missed the target. The Stags dominated extra time, too, with CJ Hamilton blazing over when through on goal, but in the end Walker saw his shootout penalty turned away by Joe Day.