League One play-off semi final – Charlton 2 Swindon 1
(3-3 on agg; Swindon win 5-4 on pens)
The League play-offs continued to satisfy the needs of the football adrenaline junkie. As an action-packed encounter, which included two sending offs and a penalty shootout, resulted in Swindon Town keeping their nerve from 12 yards to book a place at Wembley at the expense of Charlton Athletic.
Addicks skipper Nicky Bailey was the villain of the piece, as his woeful attempt from the spot was the only miss of the shootout. Ironically the ballooned shot ended up in the third tier of the stand, the same tier of league Charlton will try to escape from once again next season.
Charlton boss Phil Parkinson told the club’s website: "I don't think I've ever been in a more distraught dressing room in my whole career. Nicky Bailey is inconsolable.
"He can't speak. The lads are devastated. Not a word has been spoken in there. They put in a tremendous performance and to go out on penalties is cruel. I couldn't have asked for any more from them."
And as Bailey fled the field in tears, the Robins' players celebrated with their 3,000 travelling fans. But with 67 minutes on the clock, the visitors must have been sceptical about their promotion chances.
With the first leg finishing 2-1 in Swindon’s favour, Charlton stormed into a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a comical own goal from Stephen Ferry and a cultured strike from on-loan Reading striker David Mooney. Swindon, needing a goal to draw the tie level, had experienced captain Gordon Greer sent-off for a reckless, karate kick style attack on Deon Burton’s mid-drift.
Luckily for Greer, his rush of blood did not cost them, as Danny Ward levelled up the tie with a cool finish following a lung-bursting run by John Paul McGovern.
Addicks defender Miguel Llera was then sent off in injury-time to leave both teams with 10 men.
Charlton looked the more likely in extra time, but it was Robins chief Danny Wilson, who was left celebrating a date with Millwall or Huddersfield on May 29 at Wembley.
Wilson told the club’s official website: "It was a massive relief to win an absolute epic. To beat a big side at their place against all the odds ranks right up there as one of the best nights.
"It was an absolute rollercoaster. The emotions were up and down like a fiddler's elbow.”
That tune that the fiddler was playing was music to the Swindon’s fans ears.
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