The pair will go once more on Sunday at Subject Mill, with the winners of the two-legged conflict heading to Wembley to face both Tranmere or Forest Inexperienced
Padraig Amond proved Newport’s hero once more as Mansfield had been denied the benefit within the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at Rodney Parade.
Mansfield had led from the 12th minute by CJ Hamilton and regarded like taking an important lead into Sunday’s decisive leg at their One Name Stadium house.
However County substitute Ade Azeez was upended by Stags goalkeeper Conrad Logan seven minutes from time and Amond, who scored the FA Cup winner towards Leicester from the penalty spot in January, equalised to make it 1-1.
It was success on the second try as Logan pushed out Amond’s spot-kick, the Irishman first to the rebound to attain his 23rd aim of the season.
Newport had squeezed into the play-offs when Jamille Matt levelled three minutes from time within the closing sport at Morecambe on Saturday.
However momentum was on County’s facet with six wins in a 10-game unbeaten run.
Mansfield may need been forgiven for feeling downbeat after lacking out on an automatic-promotion spot with MK Dons claiming the weekend’s winner-takes-all prize.
However the Stags began on the entrance foot and Newport might have been diminished to 10 males after 5 minutes.
Mark O’Brien stopped the pacy Tyler Walker’s turbo-charged burst in direction of aim, however Charles Breakspear controversially brandished a yellow card when many referees may need proven crimson.
Mansfield dismay, nevertheless, turned to thrill inside seven minutes.
Jacob Mellis seized on a turnover in possession to free Hamilton down the left of the penalty space, and the winger unleashed a ferocious drive excessive into the online for his 14th aim of the season.
Mellis, the most effective participant within the opening half-hour, drove over as Mansfield continued to win a midfield skirmish carried out at breakneck velocity.
Newport had toiled to search out any fluency till Mickey Demetriou flicked on Matty Dolan’s free-kick.
Matt arrived with a far-post header however Logan fantastically scooped the ball away at point-blank vary.
That was the sign for County to use stress and battle for headers and second balls within the Mansfield field.
Nevertheless it was the Stags who ought to have been additional forward at the beginning of the second half when Walker broke free and rounded County goalkeeper Joe Day.
Walker was off-balance although as he took the shot and Demetriou was in a position to clear his trickling effort.
Newport nearly equalised inside seconds when Amond reached Matt’s header and compelled Logan right into a sprawling save at his close to put up.
Walker’s tempo was a continuing downside for the Newport defence and County had been grateful that he failed to totally join with a volley which Day fell on comfortably.
County despatched on Azeez to type a muscular strike partnership with Matt and, after Robbie Willmott noticed his offside effort dominated out, the ploy labored as Amond struck on the second time of asking.
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