Match ends, Mansfield Town 2, Newport County 1.
MansfieldMansfield Town2NewportNewport County1
Anthony Howell's goal in the final minute settled a physical clash in favour of struggling Mansfield to deny Newport a hard-earned point.
Matt Rhead's nod down was finished in style by Howell's diving header.
The home side went ahead when goalkeeper Elliot Parish failed to hold on to Ryan Tafazolli's header.
Mansfield goalkeeper Alan Marriott spilled Tom Naylor's free-kick and Rene Howe was on hand to score Newport's equaliser, before Howell's late winner.
The game included seven bookings and it was just a surprise it ended with 22 players on the pitch.
Newport's best chances saw Adam Chapman shoot narrowly wide from 25 yards, with Lee Minshull also firing a 20-yard effort just over the angle.
For the Stags, Howell flicked a header over from five yards as Parish left his line to challenge him.
But Howell's big moment came in the 90th minute and provided the Stags with three crucial points.
Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"I don't think we played particularly well, I don't think both sides played well.
"There wasn't a lot of quality on show, but it games like that you have to grind them out and pick up the three points.
"It's a massive three points for us and all I'm focusing on is our results and our performances.
"We have some big games in front of us now and we need to make sure we maintain our place in this league."
Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:
"It is very disappointing [conceding a late goal] and we should have dealt with it better.
"For long periods of the second half we dominated and if we don't win the game we certainly make sure we don't lose it.
"Unfortunately we have and that is hugely disappointing and we have to respond because that is not good enough.
"We did enough not to lose the game but the spell after we scored is when we have to be more clinical."
Line-ups
Mansfield
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Marriott
- 28Westlake
- 30Daniel
- 12Tafazolli
- 4Dempster
- 2SuttonSubstituted forMeikleat 86'minutes
- 13HowellBooked at 41mins
- 21MurrayBooked at 65mins
- 18HutchinsonSubstituted forPalmerat 68'minutes
- 11ClucasBooked at 36mins
- 9Rhead
Substitutes
- 7Briscoe
- 10Stevenson
- 17Beevers
- 20Meikle
- 23McGuire
- 24Cain
- 36Palmer
Newport
Formation 3-5-2
- 29Parish
- 18Jackson
- 15Burge
- 3HughesBooked at 90mins
- 21AnthonyBooked at 90mins
- 19Naylor
- 7ChapmanSubstituted forFlynnat 86'minutes
- 8Minshull
- 11ZebroskiBooked at 39minsSubstituted forJolleyat 90+2'minutes
- 45HoweBooked at 45minsSubstituted forJeffersat 90+2'minutes
- 12Willmott
Substitutes
- 2Pipe
- 9Crow
- 14Jeffers
- 17Flynn
- 22Worley
- 23Jolley
- 24Amadi-Holloway
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 2,756
Match Stats
Home TeamMansfieldAway TeamNewport
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 2, Newport County 1.
Booking
Andrew Hughes (Newport County) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Hughes (Newport County).
Post update
Ollie Palmer (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Andrew Hughes (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Samuel Clucas (Mansfield Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Christian Jolley replaces Chris Zebroski.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Shaun Jeffers replaces Rene Howe.
Post update
Foul by Robbie Willmott (Newport County).
Post update
Samuel Clucas (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Byron Anthony (Newport County) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Mansfield Town 2, Newport County 1. Anthony Howell (Mansfield Town) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Matthew Rhead.
Post update
Hand ball by Robbie Willmott (Newport County).
Post update
Attempt missed. Adam Murray (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Lindon Meikle replaces Ritchie Sutton because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Michael Flynn replaces Adam Chapman.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Hughes (Newport County).
Post update
Anthony Howell (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Samuel Clucas (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
