2022 EFL League Two play-off final

The play-off trophy in Port Vale colours

This was Mansfield Town's second appearance in a play-off final, having lost on penalties to Huddersfield Town in the 2004 Football League Third Division play-off final. They had played in the fourth tier of English football since gaining promotion back to the English Football League after winning the Football Conference in the 2012–13 season.[7][8] This was Mansfield Town's first visit to Wembley Stadium since losing 1–0 against Darlington in the 2011 FA Trophy Final.[2][9] Port Vale had participated in play-off finals twice before, winning the two-legged 1989 Football League Third Division play-off final against Bristol Rovers, and losing the 1993 Football League Second Division play-off final 3–0 against West Bromwich Albion at the old Wembley stadium. They had played in League Two since being relegated from League One in the 2016–17 season.[10] This year's play-off final marked Port Vale's first appearance at the renovated Wembley Stadium.[11]

In the league games between the sides during the regular season, Port Vale secured a 1–1 draw away at the One Call Stadium in October 2021 before winning 3–1 at home the following March.[12] Going into the final, Wilson was Port Vale's top scorer with 14 goals in 46 matches, followed by Proctor on 13 goals in 33 games.[13] Oates was the leading scorer for Mansfield Town, having scored 12 goals in 44 games, followed by Bowery on 9 goals in 46 matches.[14]

In May 2022, the EFL announced that for the first time, the video assistant referee (VAR) system would be used at all play-off finals.[15] The referee for the final was Jarred Gillett, who was assisted by Neil Davies and Nick Greenhalgh. James Linnington was the fourth official while Peter Bankes acted as the VAR.[16] Before the match, Mansfield Town's manager Nigel Clough confirmed that neither he nor Clarke were consulted about the introduction of VAR.[17] Port Vale made no changes to their starting eleven from the side who played in the second leg of the play-off semi-final while Mansfield brought in Murphy and Matty Longstaff.[17] Mansfield Town wore gold shirts, navy shorts and gold socks while Port Vale's kit comprised white shirts, shorts and socks.[17]

Port Vale manager Clarke had returned from bereavement leave 22 days before the final and upon winning the play-off semi-final stated that: "We've got one more game to go against Mansfield, which is fitting because it's where my eldest daughter came from ... it's the town where I was born ... it'll be an emotional day but I'm looking forward to the final."[18] Andy Crosby, Port Vale's assistant manager, led his side out for the final, having covered for Clarke during his absence earlier in the season.[17]

James Wilson scored Port Vale's second goal.

Mansfield Town kicked off the match at around 4.00 p.m. on 28 May 2022 in front of 37,303 supporters at Wembley Stadium, London.[17] In the ninth minute, Murphy took advantage of a mistake between Port Vale's goalkeeper Stone and James Gibbons but his header was saved by Stone.[19] Seven minutes later, Hall headed the ball back into his own penalty area forcing Stone to make a clearance. On 19 minutes, John-Joe O'Toole conceded possession of the ball midway inside his own half allowing Port Vale's Ben Garrity to pass to Harratt whose long-range shot struck the bottom of the Mansfield Town goalpost. A minute later, Port Vale took the lead when Benning's cross was headed into the Mansfield Town goal at close range by Harratt. In the 24th minute, Port Vale doubled their lead through Wilson: Worrall crossed from the right and Garrity's header struck the Mansfield Town crossbar, rebounding to Wilson who scored. In the 30th minute, Hawkins received the first booking of the game for a foul on Port Vale's Nathan Smith. Four minutes later, Benning's shot was saved at the near post by Mansfield Town's goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.[17] Hawkins was then sent off in the 35th minute after receiving his second yellow card in the space of five minutes, this time for a late tackle on Wilson. With three minutes of regular time in the half remaining, Connor Hall cleared a close-range shot from Bowery after a mistake from Stone. Hewitt became the second Mansfield Town player to be booked when he fouled Jake Taylor in the 44th minute before Benning's free kick was headed wide of the Mansfield Town goal. In first-half injury time, James Perch was shown a yellow card for late tackle on Garrity but the resulting free kick Wilson went narrowly outside the post. Bishop then saved from Wilson and the half came to an end with Port Vale leading 2–0.[20]

Neither side made any changes to their playing personnel during the interval. In the 52nd minute, Taylor's volley from just outside the Mansfield Town penalty area went wide of the goalpost. Two minutes later, Mansfield Town made the first substitution of the match with George Lapslie coming on to replace Murphy. On the hour mark, McLaughlin's strike went wide of Port Vale's goal. Soon after, Harratt shot the ball from close range into the Mansfield Town net but the goal was disallowed as he was adjudged to have been offside. In the 66th minute, Mansfield Town made their second change, with George Maris replacing Longstaff. A minute later, former Mansfield Town player Harry Charsley came on in place of Taylor in Port Vale's first substitution of the game. In the 70th minute, Port Vale had a second disallowed goal after Charsley struck the ball into the net from a curling Worrall cross: the recent substitute was deemed to have been offside. Two minutes later Stone saved a shot from Oates who also saw a 74th-minute strike go wide of the Port Vale goal. With fourteen minutes of the match remaining, Proctor replaced Harratt for Port Vale in their second substitution. Three minutes later Lucas Akins came on for Mansfield Town's last substitution, in place of Stephen Quinn. In the 85th minute, Benning made it 3–0 to Port Vale after volleying in a cross from Worrall. Aaron Martin then replaced Worrall in Port Vale's final substitution of the game. After three minutes of injury time, the final whistle was blown and Port Vale won the match 3–0 to secure promotion to League One.[20]