Wembley Stadium, the setting for the League 2 Play-Off Final between Mansfield Town and Port Vale! It’s finally today!!!! COME ON YOU STAGS!! Is this the day we make to League One at last!!?
28th May 2022 and it’s good morning from Watford! A family weekend away booked in advance just in case Mansfield made it and make it they did!! Good thinking there Mum & Dad!! Only a short journey we will have to make today! That’s breakfast done and the excitement is killing me now!! For the first time it will be me, Broseph, my youngest brother Jack and my Dad at a game together!! Come on!!
The time has come for us to make the journey across to Wembley Park! Mum is free to shop around Watford whilst we cheer on the Mighty Mansfield! Over to Watford Station for the Overground service to Wembley Park. 2 stops to go and there is that Wembley Arch!!
Meanwhile the Super Stag and the rest of the crew travelling down on the bus seem to be having a good time!
Here we are at Wembley Park station and there is Wembley Way! My third visit to this famous ground! It’s the first for Broseph, Jack and Dad! But a first time visiting by train. Now for the first stop of the day: The Torch! Just around the corner from Wembley Park station and its packed with a sea of Yellow and Blue already!! The atmosphere is building up as well!
Mansfield voices fill the air and it’s a shame the security don’t stop and stare as they escort the pyros out one by one like it was the Olympic Torch itself!
Can not fault this from Mansfield! I’ve been in some build-ups with fans before but this is football fandom at it’s best here! It’s an absolute carnival here at the Torch! Security here are Mansfield for today now!!! “Wahheeeey Wahooaaah! Super Mansfield!”
Time is ticking and off we go down Wembley Way to find the Super Stag and the rest. The White Horse next to Wembley and the Mansfield Fanzone is the destination and here they are!! Into the queue we go… About 15-20 minutes later and we’re at the front… But can’t get in without a physical ticket… What is the point!? Rubbish from the security there! Into Wembley we go then!
£32 to watch this Play-Off Final! Buzzing! Back in this fabulous ground once again it is absolutely breathtaking to walk out onto the steps and seeing the pitch! Time rolls on and the atmosphere is starting to build more and more now!
Unbelievable!! Whatever happens today that was incredible from the Mansfield fans! Crazy scenes in the concourse area like we’ve never seen before!! It’s time for the game now though! COME ON!! Out come the teams here we go!!
Kick Off! “Yellow & Blue army!” 7 minutes in and Mansfield have it on the right, it’s crossed in, Vale allow it to bounce and here comes Jamie MURPHY… OH! It’s saved by Aidan Stone! So close there for Mansfield!
18 minutes now and Vale play down the left, it’s played across to the edge of the box, it’s set up for Kian Harratt to shoot… He’s hit the post! So close there from Vale and a heart in your mouth moment for me and 16,000 others in our end… 2 minutes later and Port Vale have it on the left again with Mal Benning, he crosses, it’s Kian Harratt with the header… And he’s scored… Vale have the lead! Oh no! 0-1!!
4 minutes later and Port Vale play down the right hand side, the cross comes in, Ben Garrity is there with the header… Off the bar! It’s fallen to James Wilson… Oh it’s 2… Vale score again… Mansfield shell shocked… 0-2!!
30th minute now and Mansfield come forward now… COME ON! Rhys Oates has it on the left and the Referee blows his whistle… Free kick to Vale and a Yellow Card to Oli Hawkins… Don’t know what happened but there was no need to break up play! That’s a certainty!
33 minutes on the clock and Vale play it out left to Mal Benning and he drives forward, he gets into the box and shoots… Good save by Bishop! 1 minute later and Vale push forward from midfield… James Wilson is brought down by Hawkins and he’s in trouble here… He’s Off! He’s walking! Red Card! Game over now surely… Why oh why…
41 minutes now and Mansfield have a free kick on the left, Stephen McLaughlin plays it into the box… Aidan Stone collects… Oh wait he’s fumbled it and it’s Rhys Oates for Mansfield… OFF THE LINE!! So close! That was our chance! That must have been inches away there! Port Vale lead 2-0 at the break.
Great to see my cousin Tom in the concourse area but you can’t believe the difference in atmosphere there compared to what it was before kick off… Oh Mansfield…
Second half, Mansfield showing a bit more fight now but Vale looking ever as dangerous going forward. The Mansfield fans continue to cheer the team on despite being 2 down! These fans are incredible! 63 minutes on the watch and Vale have a corner, it’s played in low… The shot comes in… Bishop parries and here’s Kian Harratt… It’s there… He’s Offside! No goal! Phew!
69th minute and Vale break forward, it’s played through to Harry Charsley in the box and he’s through… He finishes! But no he’s Offside! No goal again! Phew again!
72 minutes now and Mansfield come forward, it’s played to Rhys Oates on the edge of the box to the right, he cuts inside and shoots… Deflected… Saved by Stone! 84th minute and Vale play down the right, crossed in, It’s Mal Benning who slides in… And that is the salt rubbed into the wound well and truly… Mal Benning against Mansfield to make it 3-0 to Port Vale… Oh Mansfield… 0-3!!
Port Vale see the game out well and there is the final whistle… Congratulations to Port Vale who go into League One! It’s another season in League Two for Mansfield… It’s been a great season for Mansfield though! Just a shame they picked today to put in a poor performance…
FT: Mansfield Town 0-3 Port Vale
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Brilliant from the Mansfield fans again today especially but it did die down with Mansfield’s performance sadly… Vale fans gave it a decent go but not as loud as Mansfield today respectively!
- Build-Up: 10/10 – Unreal!! Enough said!
- Expense: 6/10 – £32 for a poor Mansfield performance but still a great day out!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – Not the best performance wise but what a great day out it was!! I’m sure Jack will be joining us again next season for an away day and it was great to see him and Dad enjoying the atmosphere!
32/40
Watched it Jake. The Red card killed you. Shame on a big day. Unlucky matey but you are right great stadium and a great day out!!! There is always next year!! By the way £32 is not bad for a final.