Vale are back in the third tier for the first time since 2017 Goals by Kian Harratt, James Wilson and Mal Benning helped Port Vale defeat Mansfield 3-0 in the League Two play-off final to ensure an emotional Darrell Clarke ended a difficult season on a high.
Clarke spent six weeks on compassionate leave following the loss of a close family member in February but his phased return helped Vale into the play-offs and they are now back in the third tier for the first time since 2017.
First-half headers by Harratt and Wilson put the Stoke club in control before former Stags ace Benning added the cherry on the cake with five minutes left to thump Nigel Clough’s 10 men, who had Oli Hawkins sent off in the 36th minute.
The two clubs endured rollercoaster seasons, with Mansfield going on a 12-game winless run early into the campaign while Vale won only one of their opening eight games before both outfits clicked ahead of the winter period.
With Nottingham Forest also set to visit the national stadium on Sunday, Stags boss Clough was hoping to start a double weekend of success for the family name, and his side should have gone ahead early on.
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