Porter Prevails in Promotion Push


Sheffield United 1-0 Stevenage (Agg.1-0)
Npower League 1 play-off semi-final second leg.
Bramall Lane
Attendance: 21182

Sheffield United booked their place in the League 1 play-off final and a potential Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town at Wembley.
 
The Blades edged past Stevenage in a nervy re-run of Friday night’s drab goalless semi-final first leg, courtesy of Chris Porter’s late header (right).

The fact that Danny Wilson’s men missed a spark was understandable as they relied heavily on the lone forward Porter with James Beattie, Richard Cresswell and Will Hoskins all out through suspension or injuries.

After one of the poorest first halves of football in recent memory, both sides came out after the break galvanised by the fact that they had 45 minutes to create something meaningful or face extending the tedium. Thank goodness then for Luke Freeman, the Stevenage midfielder, who, by looking inventive and industrious in equal measure, proved to be the only continual source of interest.

Lee Williamson and Ryan Flynn conspired eventually to wreak havoc down United’s right though and both swept close range shots wide before Scott Laird’s rasping effort for the visitors kept Steve Simonsen, and Bramall Lane, on their toes.

Matt Hill thundered a 35 yard shot inches wide moments before the defining moment eventually came. Five minutes from time Porter shook himself and the Kop out of their slumber to plant Matt Lowton’s inch perfect cross past Chris Day from inside the six yard box and ignite an odd sense of cautious delirium from three quarters of the ground.

Most United fans are wary of the perils of play-off finals, having lost their last three, and will agree with manager Wilson that “there’s nothing worth celebrating yet.” The fact remains however, that the Sheffield club are an agonising 90 minutes from an immediate return to the Championship where they would join arch rivals Wednesday. 

Wilson’s tired side have held up their end of the bargain for a White Rose clash in the Capital, tonight it’s the turn of Simon Grayson’s rejuvenated Terriers.

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