Newport will have a chance to play for a place in League One after beating Mansfield on penalties in a thrilling contest.
Goalkeeper Joe Day was the hero, saving Tyler Walker’s penalty as Newport converted all five of their spot-kicks.
Far from a dull stalemate, the result was harsh on Mansfield who contributed to a game full of chances, while Newport hit the woodwork three times.
Newport will face Tranmere or Forest Green in the final on Saturday, 25 May.
The Stags came into the contest with an excellent home record against Newport, winning 12 of their previous 13 encounters at Field Mill, so they would have fancied their chances after a strong showing in the first leg.
However, roared on by over 1,100 away supporters, Newport spurned chance after chance in a lopsided first half that they utterly dominated.
Josh Sheehan twice came close, with a 20-yard effort saved by Conrad Logan before he fired wide from eight yards out after Dan Butler’s inviting centre.
County top scorer Padraig Amond also came close but found the angle against him, while Robbie Willmott’s goal-bound effort was brilliantly blocked by Ben Turner as Newport laid siege to Mansfield.
Newport hit the crossbar twice before the interval through Joss Labadie and a flick off defender Ben Turner, with the hosts booed off at the interval.
Mansfield improved after half-time with Walker flashing a shot wide and Danny Rose blasting over after CJ Hamilton’s inviting cutback.
Scot Bennett almost found the breakthrough for County with a thunderous 25-yard drive, but it rattled against the crossbar as Newport hit the woodwork for the third time, before Sheehan’s volley was brilliantly tipped away by Logan.
Newport goalkeeper Day was also busy in a frenetic contest, tipping away a fierce Walker drive as the tension increased.
Logan again denied County when Matt came close before Walker missed a huge chance with the goal at his mercy with just five minutes remaining. Alex MacDonald also headed wide to ensure extra time.
Both sides spurned further chances in extra time, especially when Day denied Walker with his legs from point-blank range and Regan Poole produced an incredible block on the line from Rose’s rebound shot.
Penalties settled the contest with Walker, who scored 26 goals this season, denied by Day and Newport scoring with all five of their attempts.
Newport’s run of 12 games without defeat is their best since 1938.
Newport County manager Mike Flynn said:
“What an amazing achievement by these players. I thought we were excellent, we were absolutely superb.
“We should have gone three or four up first half. Second half they came back into it a little bit and they had a few chances of their own, and the extra time was just like a basketball game, end-to-end.
“So for the neutral it must have been brilliant.
“The penalties were a situation of what will be, will be. But I had full faith in these players.”
