Terriers grab final spot after penalty shoot-out

Not after one of the most dramatic nights in the long and proud history of the town’s football club.

After a truly mesmerising 120 minutes and a nerve-jangling penalty shoot-out, the Terriers are on their way to the League One play-off final.

Ian Bennett’s save from Liam Feeney plus Anton Robinson driving his spotkick against the crossbar meant all Town had to do was successfully convert their own penalties, which was something they achieved with aplomb through Lee Novak, Danny Ward, Kevin Kilbane and, finally, Antony Kay.

It means not only does a place in the Championship beckon for Lee Clark’s side but also history, due to Huddersfield now having the opportunity to become the first club to win a play-off final at three different venues following triumphs at Wembley (1995) and the Millennium Stadium (2004).

No wonder, therefore, that few in the town will care that last night was the seventh time that the Terriers have failed to win a play-off tie on home soil in regulation play.

The successful penalty shoot-out capped an amazing night of drama that saw the home side twice lead only to fall behind in extra time.

Then, when all seemed lost, Lee Clark’s side conjured up an equaliser from somewhere to set up a frantic second period of extra time in which Bournemouth captain Jason Pearce was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Kilbane and both teams had chances aplenty.

Happily for the vast majority of the 16,444 crowd, it was Town who then triumphed to leave the Cherries facing the long trip south in despair.

Earlier, the night had started brightly with it taking just 21 seconds for Clark’s men to fashion the first chance when Gary Roberts brought a fine block from visiting goalkeeper Shwan Jalal.

That should have been the prelude for a Town onslaught but, instead, the home side took until the midway point of the first half to really turn the screw on the visitors.

First, Jalal had to race from his line to block Roberts before then showing tremendous reflexes to claw away a goalbound header from Jordan Rhodes behind for a corner.

However, if the Cherries’ goalkeeper thought the danger had been averted, he was very mistaken as, from the resulting corner, Lee Peltier powered an unstoppable header into the net from close range.

Bournemouth, who in the early stages had gone close through Danny Ings and Adam Smith, drew level a minute before the interval through Steve Lovell’s penalty.

Huddersfield could have no complaints over the award, Peter Clarke having been guilty of scything Smith down as he collected a one-two from Lovell.

The home side’s response, however, was as impressive as it was swift with Ward restoring their advantage in stoppage time courtesy of a fine turn and drilled shot from the edge of the area.

The Town fans may have hoped Ward’s fourth goal for the club would be enough to clinch a trip to Old Trafford but, this being the play-offs, there were still plenty of twists and turns to come.

First, Kilbane manhandled referee Neil Swarbrick on the hour when contesting a decision – an offence that could easily have led to a red card rather than the booking the veteran midfielder received.

Then, just three minutes later, Bournemouth drew level for a second time when a neat pass from Rhoys Wiggins found Lovell, who flicked the ball wide of Ian Bennett before drilling a shot into the roof of the net.

Chances then came and went at both ends before the completion of normal time with Hollands heading straight at Bennett when unmarked and Roberts curling a late effort just wide.

With neither side able to make the breakthrough in 90 minutes, the game went into extra time and it was Bournemouth who struck the first blow.

Michael Symes started the move with a deft ball down the left for Marc Pugh, who whipped in an inviting cross for Ings to head past Bennett.

Town were not done, though, and they drew level in the final minute of first-half stoppage time when Kay powered Roberts’s corner past Jalal to send the tie to penalties.

Then, after Michael Symes and Lee Novak had both scored, the decisive penalty misses by Feeney and Robinson sandwiched a successful spot-kick by Ward. Kilbane then did the same, meaning that even though Shaun Cooper beat Bennett, Kay was able to send Town to Old Trafford by driving in off the crossbar.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Hunt, P Clarke, Kay, Naysmith; Ward, Peltier (McCombe 95), Kilbane, Roberts; Rhodes (Novak 67), Afobe (Lee 104). Unused substitutes: Colgan, Arfield, Gudjonsson, Cadamarteri.

Bournemouth: Jalal; Smith , Pearce, Cooper, Wiggins; Feeney, Robinson, McDermott (Pugh 78), Hollands; Lovell (Symes 95), Ings (Baudry 113). Unused substitutes: Thomas, Fletcher, Symes, Arter, Cummings.

Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).