Wayne Andrews: Still can't work out how/why Mansfield Town didn't go up automatically - they were second on Good Friday

Three defeats on the spin to end the regular season probably didn't help their cause Wayne!

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Joe Day proves his worth with a fantastic save for Newport, after Jacob Mellis' shot from 18 yards, left side of the box, takes a deflection which threatened to steer it over his head.

The corner comes to nothing. Mansfield prove they're not resting on their laurels, though, with that chance.

Almost an equaliser for Newport!

Long ball into Jamille Matt on the edge of the box, who takes it down and thrashes the ball at goal, Mansfield goalkeeper Conrad Logan paws it away but the offside Robbie Willmott is ruled out after he tucks away the rebound.

Newport lifted again.

Danny Rose breaks after Newport give the ball away but the Mansfield forward raps the ball at teammate Tyler Walker and it takes too long to come down.

His flashing volley skids safely through to the diving Joe Day.

Not sure the communications between referee Charles Breakspear and his assistants are working too well, as we've had a few moments of confusion.

Newport again pump the ball long. It's cleared. Mansfield thread it forward and Tyler Walker flicks on but Danny Rose is offside.

So scrappy. So, so scrappy.

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It's a bit like a game of head tennis for the Mansfield defence, as Krystian Pearce and Ryan Sweeney take it in turns to nod clear a string of balls whacked over the top. High and long. Meat and drink.

Newport have sent on Ade Azeez, can he get the home side from A to Z?

Mansfield winger CJ Hamilton just strolls into the Newport box after taking on a touch-back from Danny Rose, but the ball is cut out and turned behind.

Jacob Mellis is livid. He was on his tod opposite side of the box.

Corner is pumped away by Newport.

Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce gets a yellow as he blocks off Padraig Amond - quite tactically cynical.

However, another free-kick hoyed into the box goes out to no danger.

Can't deny that was an exciting passage of play but what I wouldn't give for a 10-second, 15-second if I'm being greedy, flurry of neat, on-the-floor interchanging passes.

Getting a crained neck from the aerial assault.

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CONRAD LOGAN WITH ANOTHER WONDERFUL SAVE!

Newport angle a ball into the box, Jamille Matt nods it down into the 'corridor of uncertainty' and Padraig Amond just has to tuck it in...

Not with Logan about, he stretches himself and turns it away. Outstanding. I'm giving the keeper the credit rather than hammering the forward. Defying logic.

How on earth have Mansfield not got a second?!

Tyler Walker just seems to waltz his way in behind the Newport backline, but a heavy touch takes the ball too close to Joe Day, and as the ball bobbles towards the line it is cleared.

First action of the second half might just have set the tone for the game to come...

Mansfield bang it forward, Matt Dolan leaps with Neal Bishop and is left on the deck.

Not a lot of elegance and grace about it all.

Manchester City, possible Premier League champions elect, were the last team to beat Newport at Rodney Parade.

Mansfield are halfway toward adding their name to that list.

Anyway, we're back underway. Mansfield get us going.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at Rodney Parade

The visitors are definitely good value for their lead and have played the much better football.

In fact, so dominant have they been, that arguably they will be disappointed only to be a goal ahead.

Newport will surely play better in the second half.

The Stags also had a good claim that it should be 10 v 11 as Newport were lucky Mark O'Brien wasn't sent off after just five minutes.

Still all to play for at Rodney Parade.

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We'll have live text commentary of every play-off game, right through to the finals later this month.

So you won't miss a thing.

And the second legs for your diaries...

Sunday, 12 May

• League Two - Mansfield v Newport (18:00 BST)

Monday, 13 May

• League Two - Forest Green v Tranmere (19:45)

Tuesday, 14 May

• Championship - West Brom v Aston Villa (20:00)

Wednesday, 15 May

• Championship - Leeds v Derby (19:45)

Thursday, 16 May

• League One - Portsmouth v Sunderland (19:45)

Friday, 17 May

• League One - Charlton v Doncaster (19:45)

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Here's what's coming up in the play-off first legs over the next few days...

Friday, 10 May

• League Two - Tranmere v Forest Green (19:45 BST)

Saturday, 11 May

• Championship - Aston Villa v West Brom (12:30)
• Championship - Derby v Leeds (17:15)
• League One - Sunderland v Portsmouth (19:30)

Sunday, 12 May

• League One - Doncaster v Charlton (12:15)

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CJ Hamilton's moment of quality for Mansfield has been a bit like an oasis of brilliance in a first-half high on passion and intensity, but low on genuine class.

Hamilton struck a thumping near-post drive past Newport keeper Joe Day on the counter-attack, to give the Stags a 1-0 lead.

Newport have dragged themselves into the game, causing the visitors plenty of problems, but were denied their equaliser by the other true moment of brilliance - a point-blank tip over by goalkeeper Conrad Logan.

Mansfield's only reprieve in the past couple of minutes was a ball given away in midfield, but they soon lost it when the ball went into touch.

Newport have turned the game around in terms of possession but not on the scoreboard, where it counts.

Newport look dangerous when they get the ball in and around the box, and are picking up the second phase ball.

Long ball forward, knocked down by Jamille Matt or cleared by a Mansfield defender, and they turn the screw from there.

Three minutes of added time.

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