Halford goal helps Sheffield United through to final
Kevin Blackwell eyeing up the Premier League
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Monday, 11, May 2009 10:08
Greg Halford scored the crucial goal to seal a 2-1 aggregate win for Sheffield United in the Championship play-off semi-final against Preston North End.
With the score at 1-1 after the first-leg, Halford headed home the winner for his side as they claimed a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane.
The home side were more threatening in the first-half but there were few clear-cut chances. Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan was rarely called into action with only a 25-yard shot from Chris Brown the closest United came to a goal.
It was a completely different story in the second-half as the game burst into life with chances at both ends.
Lonergan made a good diving save to stop a Craig Beattie header from a Gary Cotterrill cross from going in.
Sheffield United got a deserved goal after dominating possession as a brilliant cross from Kyle Walker was met by Greg Halford and he found the top left-hand corner with an excellent header.
The Blades should have sealed their place at Wembley minutes later when Beattie found himself through on goal, but stumbled at the last moment and Preston managed to clear the ball from their goal-line.
The goal brought Preston to life as they had to come out in search of an equaliser. Jon Parkin came agonisingly close to scoring for Preston as he picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area and thumped a shot towards goal, but Paddy Kenny pushed the ball away to make his first save of the night.
Sheffield United were suddenly under immense pressure and were thankful to Brian Howard for keeping their lead as he somehow managed to clear the ball off the line from a close-range Neil Mellor shot.
Preston threw everything at United in the last minutes of the game, but the Blades held on to book their place in the Championship play-off final where they will face either Burnley or Reading.