Tranmere finished six points behind Milton Keynes Dons and Bury (who were promoted in third and second place respectively) and twelve behind league winners Lincoln City.

Mansfield took the lead early in the first half following combined play from Jacob Mellis and Danny Rose which allowed CJ Hamilton to strike the ball into the roof of Newport's net at the near post.

Despite Mansfield's first-half dominance, Newport applied pressure in the second half, with a 70th minute strike from Robbie Willmott being disallowed for offside.

Mansfield goalkeeper Conrad Logan had made a number of second-half saves before bringing down Adebayo Azeez and conceding a penalty late in the game.

Newport dominated the first half, striking the Mansfield crossbar twice, but failed to convert any of their chances as it ended goalless.

The home side dominated possession and James Norwood missed four chances to extend their lead but the match ended 1–0.

A headed goal from Forest Green's Joseph Mills early in the first half levelled the tie on aggregate before Norwood put Tranmere back into the lead with a volley on 27 minutes.

Carl Winchester was sent off for the home side after being shown a second yellow card and Tranmere held on to secure the draw, and the 2–1 aggregate victory.

[2][11] During the regular season, Newport had won 1–0 against Tranmere at Prenton Park in September 2018 and both clubs played out a goalless draw the following April.

[13][14] Newport manager Michael Flynn noted prior to the game that there was "a lot of experience between the two squads at Wembley, which is quite surreal for League Two players.

[11] Newport played in their traditional amber and black kit while Tranmere wore their white and blue home strip.

On 31 minutes, Nelson hesitated in defence and conceded which was almost converted by Mark O'Brien at the far post after Newport had made an initial clearance.

[11][16] In the 43rd minute, Perkins broke from midfield for Tranmere and passed to Harris whose cross was headed over the Newport goal by Norwood, and the half ended goalless.

In the 55th minute, Matt received the first yellow card of the game for impeding the Tranmere goalkeeper Davies as he tried to release the ball early after saving a Dan Butler free kick.

Joss Labadie then shot wide for Newport before Tranmere's Liam Ridehalgh saw his free kick strike the defensive wall and cleared.

Two minutes later a cross from Butler was allowed to bounce in the Tranmere penalty area but Matt's low header was tipped onto the post by Davies.

Perkins was then booked for a push on Newport's Dolan before Steve McNulty replaced Morris in Tranmere's second substitution of the game.

Before the start of the second half of extra time, Newport made their fourth and final substitution, Keanu Marsh-Brown coming on for Willmott.

His cross to the back post went beyond Norwood but the unmarked Jennings headed the ball past Day to make it 1–0 to Tranmere.

Two minutes of injury time were played during which Newport had a free kick which came to nothing, and the match ended with Tranmere victorious, winning back-to-back promotions.

"[21] His opposite number Flynn bemoaned the refusal of Joyce to use VAR to review Monthe's challenge on Matt late in the second half: "We are at the home of football.