The Valiants shatter Mansfield's unbeaten run as Alfie Devine sends us through to our first ever Carabao Cup Quarter Final.
The Valiants started the stronger, controlling possession of the ball in the early stages. Ollie Arblaster had the first chance of the game on ten minutes. He cut through the Stags defence and had an opening on the left just outside the area for a shot. However, his effort was easy for Christy Pym to claim.
We came close four minutes later through Funso Ojo. Tom Sang looked threatening on the right wing and produced a fine cross into the middle to find Ojo but his header was just too high.
Sang tried for the opener himself on 19 minutes as he drove in on goal from the right wing but his close range effort was well saved by Pym.
Vale were dominating the play and it was all coming from Tom Sang on the right. Another beautiful ball in was met by Arblaster but his volley crashed off the far post and fell behind for a Mansfield goal kick.
The hosts had their first chance just after the half hour mark when Davis Keillor-Dunn met a cross and hit the ball sweetly on the volley but Connor Ripley reacted quickly to the effort and parried it away from danger.
The Valiants, despite that opportunity for Mansfield, continued to control the game and had another chance, this time through Uche Ikpeazu. His strength was too much for the host’s defence to handle but as he shot our number 12 lost his balance and saw his strike go over the bar as the first half came to an end.
But just five minutes into the second half we took a much deserved lead through Alfie Devine who made it two goals in two games for himself. He picked the ball up and turned Louis Reed as he sprinted towards goal. A beautiful strike from outside the area was too much for Pym as it sneaked into the bottom corner.
On the hour mark the Valiants almost made it two with James Plant causing the Mansfield defence all sorts of problems. He turned his man on the left and tried to put the ball past Pym at his near post but the Stags keeper managed to get a hand to it to parry it away for a corner.
Nine minutes later, substitute Rhys Oates broke in on goal with only Nathan Smith to beat. But the striker’s touch took him too far wide enabling Ripley and Smith to deal with the threat.
There were eight minutes added on but the Valiants defended superbly limiting the Stags to no clear chances as we progressed into the Quarter Finals for the first time in our history.
Mansfield Town | Christy Pym, Ollie Clarke (59’ Rhys Oates), Jordan Bowery, George Maris (59’ James Gale), Calum Macdonald (83’ Stephen McLaughlin), Aden Flint, Aaron Lewis, Lewis Brunt, Louis Reed (90’ Baily Cargill), Will Swan (59’ Hiram Boateng), Davis Keillor-Dunn
Unused Subs | Scott Flinders, Callum Johnson, George Cooper, George Williams
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity, Alfie Devine, Uche Ikpeazu (63’ Ryan Loft), Funso Ojo, Jason Lowe, Ollie Arblaster, James Plant, Jesse Debrah (90+1’ Lewis Cass)
Unused Subs | Jayson Leutwiler, Gavin Massey, Tom Conlon, Jack Shorrock, Rhys Walters, Baylee Dipepa, Josh Thomas