Matt helps Newport to promotion final

LONDON (CMC):

Jamaican striker Jamille Matt helped his side reach the English League Two promotion final at Wembley Stadium. This was after Newport County defeated Mansfield Town 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out, after a pulsating goalless draw in the second leg at One Call Stadium yesterday, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Matt, 29, who has scored 20 goals during his first season at Newport, was not required to take a penalty as teammates Dan Butler, Padrag Amond – the club’s top scorer with 23 goals – Mickey Demetriou, Regan Poole and Matthew Dolan all scored for the visitors while, crucially, Tyler Walker failed for Mansfield.

Walker, who scored 26 goals this season, saw his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Joe Day.

Newport will face either Tranmere Rovers or Forest Green Rovers in the final at the home of English football on May 25 for a place in League One next season.

Tranmere go to Forest Green today holding a 1-0 advantage after Friday’s first leg at Prenton Park, where the visitors played for 75 minutes with 10 men after Gavin Gunning was sent off.

Glorious opportunity

Newport dominated yesterday’s first half and twice struck the crossbar through Joss Labadie and a flick off defender Ben Turner, with the hosts booed off at the interval.

Mansfield improved after the break, but Newport’s Scot Bennett almost broke the deadlock with a thunderous 25-yard strike that thudded against the crossbar. Walker spurned a glorious opportunity with five minutes of regulation time remaining, shooting wide with the goal at his mercy – and then suffering added misery with his shoot-out miss.

Newport’s run of 12 games without defeat is their best since 1938. It will be their fourth trip to Wembley in seven years.