WATCH out Wembley, Newport County AFC are on their way once again.

Substitute Matty Dolan struck the winning penalty after Joe Day had saved from Tyler Walker to seal a dramatic 5-3 shootout win for County after a simply incredible encounter at Mansfield Town.

The Exiles had the chances to win this League Two play-off semi-final second leg in normal time and Mansfield could have snatched it in extra-time but it ended 0-0 at Field Mill and 1-1 on aggregate.

And, in the end, it was sheer willpower and determination that saw Michael Flynn’s men seal a magnificent victory and secure their place in the final on May 25.

They will take on either Tranmere Rovers or Forest Green Rovers for a place in League One and, after this superb performance, they will fancy their chances against either.

County could and probably should have been out of sight by half-time.

Joss Labadie, who returned in place of Dolan, made a big difference.

He picked up his customary early yellow card and he was followed into the book by Mark O’Brien and Dan Butler as the hosts started on the front foot.

But that early pressure from the Stags produced little, apart from a Jacob Mellis free-kick that failed to trouble Day.

All the chances before the break came at the other end with Labadie and Josh Sheehan pushing forward to support front three Robbie Willmott, Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond.

Sheehan was the first to test Mansfield goalkeeper Conrad Logan in the 12th minute when his long-distance effort was palmed behind.

The midfielder then volleyed into the stanchion from Dan Butler’s cross before Amond fired into the side netting after a clever pass from Matt.

Willmott saw a goal-bound effort blocked by former Cardiff City defender Ben Turner and Labadie then headed onto the bar after a scramble in the box from a Mickey Demetriou long throw.

Amond also headed just off target from Butler’s free-kick and a Mansfield defender flicked a clearance onto his own bar in a frantic end to the first period.

The hosts were hugely relieved to be level at the break and David Flitcroft brought on Mal Benning for Will Tomlinson as his side looked to punish County for their profligacy.

Walker and Danny Rose both had half chances in the opening minutes of the second half but both cleared Day’s bar from the edge of the area.

The home fans, who had been showing signs of frustration, roared their approval.

But, as the match wore on, it was the 1,118 Exiles supporters who were making most of the noise.

They gasped as Scot Bennett smacked the bar with a piledriver from more than 30 yards just before the hour and groaned when Logan denied Sheehan with another flying save moments later.

They held their breath as Day coolly held on to a Benning free-kick and then kept out a Turner header from close range and they cheered as he leapt to his left to stop Walker making the breakthrough.

The tension was almost unbearable for both sets of fans as the clock ticked down.

The home faithful tried to lift their side for one last push and the amber army responded in kind.

Labadie hobbled off after a meaty challenge on the far touchline and Ade Azeez raced on to try to make himself a hero.

Rose saw a shot deflected behind at one end and another scramble in the box at the other resulted in O’Brien’s wild effort being plucked out of the air by Logan.

Walker should have won it for Mansfield five minutes from the end of normal time but he slashed inches wide with Day beaten.

Rose then headed wide from Benning’s whipped cross two minutes from the end before Turner glanced a free-kick past the other post in the final minute.

Extra-time was no less tense and Mansfield came closest to grabbing the winner.

Day denied Walker again before Poole cleared brilliantly on the line.

And Walker had another golden chance to nick it in the 110th minute but his header was again off target and an enthralling contest had to be settled from the spot.

Neither side really deserved to lose, but it was the County fans celebrating long into the night and planning a fourth trip to Wembley in seven years.

County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou, Butler; Sheehan (Dolan, 111), Bennett, Labadie (Azeez, 76, McKirdy, 111); Amond, Matt, Willmott

Subs not used: Pipe, Crofts, Marsh-Brown, Randall

Booked: Labadie, O’Brien, Butler, Sheehan, Matt, Poole

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Attendance: 7,361 (1,118 County)

Argus star man: Matt