Mansfield put in a couple of early challenges to set the tempo in this second half. They're not going to roll over here.

Port Vale work the ball out to Connor Hall, who plays it into James Wilson after a nice dummy. He can't quite get the shot away and it goes behind for a corner, which is knocked out of play for a goal kick.

Here we go then, what can Mansfield do in response? Only Barrow dropped more points from winning positions than Port Vale this season. Just saying...

Port Vale get us going again.

Jon D'Laryea
Former Mansfield Town midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

Every player on this pitch will have been in a situation before where they’ve been down to 10 men but got a goal and then it feels like the game is level in terms of players.

The next goal has to be for Mansfield and the pressure will then be on Port Vale, and they will drop deeper.

These mistakes Port Vale are making, Mansfield need to capitalise on them.

It genuinely isn’t game over. They can make a really good go of it.

Image source, Rex Features

Mansfield's day hasn't gone to plan so far today but seeing this man on the pitch is amazing in itself.

The potentially deadly consequences of playing football had James Perch considering retirement just nine months ago.

Instead, he's out on the Wembley pitch against Port Vale having recovered from a fractured skull - which has left a shard of bone pointing towards his brain.

It took countless neurological and physical tests, as well numerous scans, for the defender to be passed fit to resume his career in January, after an "innocuous aerial challenge" during training in August threatened to bring his 18-year professional playing career to an end.

"The risk that came with it was that if I was to get another whack there it could be fatal. That is the extreme consequence," Perch told BBC Sport's Andrew Aloia.

Read the full interview.

Test your knowledge on the past 10 months of action with our 10-question quiz and let us know how you get on, using #bbcefl on social media.

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Yates
Former Vale defender on BBC Radio Stoke

We’ve had an amazing 45 minutes.

Those at the ground won’t believe the position we’re in.

Port Vale have played much better than Mansfield, they've passed better and taken their opportunities.

They’re in pole position now.

Image source, Rex Features

What have you made of the game Vale and Mansfield fans? Get involved and let us know your thoughts throughout the match by tweeting with the hashtag #bbcefl.

Keep it clean and we might even post your thoughts here for others to reply!

They say a picture tells a thousand words, so here's 5,000 words worth of photos to tell the story of that first 45 minutes...

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at Wembley

It's all whistles and cheers for for Port Vale as the half-time whistle is blown.

I've just heard the words "this isn't going to be a Nigel Clough story" in the press box. A huge 45 minutes will be needed from the Stags if they are going to change that prediction.

Image source, PA Media

The half-time whistle blows and there are boos from the Mansfield Town fans - their Wembley dream has turned into a nightmare.

Jamie Murphy's early header could and should have maybe given the Stags the lead but that would be as good as it would get for them.

Kian Harratt and James Wilson's goals in four crucial minutes have given Port Vale a strong grip on this game.

It went from bad to worse for Mansfield as Oli Hawkins was sent off for two yellow cards late in the half, leaving his side a mountain to climb in the second half.

Image source, PA Media

James Wilson steps up to strike it with his left. He whips it round the wall but can't get enough curl on it to bring the ball back inside the post and it goes wide.

Wilson then gets another bite at the cherry as the ball is worked to him but his right foot shot is straight at Nathan Bishop.

Another Mansfield player goes into the book as captain James Perch catches Ben Garrity high on the follow-through to give Port Vale a free kick in a dangerous area.

The free-kick comes in and Nathan Smith jumps highest to head wide for Port Vale.

It's a decent chance for the centre-back.

Jon D'Laryea
Former Mansfield Town midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

The chances are there for Mansfield.

They’ll be buoyed and have so much confidence from this last five minutes or so.

It’s a whisker away from a goal.

How did that not go in?

Mansfield are almost gifted a goal back. Stephen McLaughlin whips a free-kick into the area and it looks simple for Aidan Stone to collect but it bounces off him.

Rhys Oakes shot goes underneath him and is cleared off the line by Connor Hall.

We've got a break in play after another heavy Mansfield challenge, this time from Elliott Hewitt on Jake Taylor. It's a painful one from a high boot and Hewitt is booked.

Five minutes of added time.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport at Wembley

That red card has almost brought a hush over the entire stadium. Sure, there were your usual roars of agreement and outrage after it happened, but then there was an odd silence as Oli Hawkins walked off.

I could hear Port Vale fans discussing what it would mean for them after already being 2-0 up. On the far side of the stadium from me, I imagine the feeling is one of shock.

Jon D'Laryea
Former Mansfield Town midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

It's a little bit of naivety and you think, would a natural centre-back do that?

It's clever play by James Wilson. He knows he can't run away from him there. It's a definite yellow and it could have been avoided.

It was clumsy. It's just clever play by the striker. He can touch it and even jump into Oli Hawkins and it's a yellow card.

Image source, Getty Images

This is going horribly, horribly wrong for Mansfield.

Oli Hawkins' first yellow is silly and this one is avoidable. James Wilson dodges one challenge and Hawkins goes for the ball but gets it all wrong and cleans him out. He had to win the ball in that challenge and doesn't.

His day is over but Mansfield's is going to feel a lot longer. They're two goals and a player down and we're not even at half-time.

Port Vale are happy for Mansfield to have the ball and pass it around the back.

They turn the ball over and kick it up to Mal Benning on the left, who decides to go it alone and smashes a shot from a tight angle, with Nathan Bishop making the save at his near post.

Kian Harratt looked like the better option in the six-yard box, he certainly thought so.