Port Vale sink Swindon in shootout to reach playoff final amid ugly scenes

Port Vale won a nerve-jangling penalty shootout 6-5 to beat Swindon and secure their place in the League Two playoff final, where they will play Mansfield.

After the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate, Aidan Stone was the home side’s hero in the shootout in front of a bumper crowd of 11,669 at Vale Park. Vale’s victory was marred by some unseemly scenes amid a post-game pitch invasion, as the visiting players appeared to be confronted by a group of fans in the centre circle.

“What they [the Swindon players] have had to put up with coming off that pitch... players have been physically and verbally abused,” said the Swindon manager, Ben Garner. “I know I’ve seen it in some of the other play-off games. I don’t know where we’re going as a country – it’s absolutely disgusting.”

Swindon had won the first leg 2-1 but Port Vale’s James Wilson scored in the eighth minute to make the tie level on aggregate, before their manager Darrell Clarke was sent off in the third minute of extra time after an altercation with Swindon player Dion Conroy.

Clarke decided to make three changes to his starting side after their 2-1 defeat at the County Ground four days ago. Kian Harratt, Mal Benning and Jake Taylor were handed the chance to shine, while Aaron Martin, Harry Charsley and Ryan Edmondson dropped to the bench. Swindon remained unchanged as Garner kept faith in the side who impressed in the first leg.

Wilson should have scored after just four minutes, but he wasted a glorious chance at the back post. David Worrall whipped in a lovely cross but the usually reliable Wilson somehow missed the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Swindon were adamant they should have had a penalty moments later when Mandela Egbo’s cross looked to have struck the hand