Huddersfield 2-2 Lincoln

First leg report

(Agg: 4-3 to Huddersfield)

A late strike by Huddersfield skipper Rob Edwards booked his side's place in the Division Three play-off final.

Lincoln, who trailed 2-1 after the first leg, gave themselves hope with goals from Richard Butcher and Mark Bailey late in the first half.

But a penalty on the hour from Town's Danny Schofield, which levelled the tie on aggregate, started the fightback.

With both sides pushing for victory, a right-footed shot from Edwards seven minutes from time sealed the win.

Lincoln had looked good for a place in the Cardiff final when they scored twice in the space of a minute to give themselves the lead on aggregate.

Butcher's opener after 38 minutes came after a mix-up between Town keeper Paul Rachubka and defender Efe Sodje allowed him to slide the ball into an empty net.

And, almost straight from the restart, the visitors stunned a packed McAlpine Stadium when Kevin Ellison fired home a second with a delightful shot from the edge of the area.

Hudderfield's best chances of the opening half fell to Anthony Lloyd and Andy Booth but neither caused too much trouble to Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott.

But the home side were left shell-shocked by Lincoln's double strike before sparking a dramatic second-half comeback.

Referee Mike Pike turned down home claims for a penalty when Ben Futcher looked to have handled in the box.

But to the fury of a partisan crowd, play was waved on.

However, on the hour, Mr Pike did point to the spot, this time when Lincoln defender McCombe tripped Booth in the box and Schofield held his nerve to level the aggregate scores at 3-3.

Huddersfield continuted to push forward and Schofield came close to connecting with an Andy Booth cross and moments later, substitute John McAliskey headed just wide

But late on, Booth got the ball caught under his feet on the edge of the box and club skipper Edwards lashed the ball home first time to leave Marriott stranded.

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Huddersfield: Rachubka, Yates, Sodje, Mirfin, Holdsworth, Edwards, Worthington, Schofield, Lloyd, Onuora (McAliskey 63), Booth.
Subs Not Used: Fowler, Scott, Brown, Senior.

Lincoln City: Marriott, Bailey, McCombe, Bloomer (Green 84), Futcher, Ellison, Butcher, Gain, Fletcher, Richardson (Wilford 84), Yeo.
Subs Not Used: Sedgemore, Sandwith, Weaver.

Attendance: 19,467.

Referee: M Pike (Cumbria).