Oxford United beat Peterborough to make the League One play-off finalRex Features

Cameron Brannagan scored his 13th goal of the season for Oxford United

Oxford United beat Peterborough United 2-1 on aggregate in their League One play-off semi-final to set up a meeting with Bolton at Wembley.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, it was Posh who netted first in the return fixture at the Weston Homes Stadium, Josh Knight smartly placing the ball into the far corner of Jamie Cumming’s goal from a set-piece after a fiery start.

The U's equalised through Cameron Brannagan in first-half added time when the 27-year-old slotted home from the penalty spot after Harrison Burrows handled the midfielder's powerful free-kick in the area.

Despite plenty of pressure from the hosts after the break, Oxford defended superbly and will now face Wanderers on 18 May for the chance of promotion to the Championship.

Oxford have not played in the second tier since the 1998-99 season, while Posh exit the play-offs at the semi-final stage for the second year running following last season's remarkable capitulation against Sheffield Wednesday.

Oxford stand up to pressure

Darren Ferguson’s team started the second leg how they ended the first, playing with a high speed and tempo, forcing the U’s deep into their own half.

After half an hour of relentless Peterborough pressure, Oxford were dealt a blow as midfielder Tyler Goodrham was unable to continue, Buckingham replacing him with ex-Arsenal academy player Marcus McGuane.

Posh levelled up the tie five minutes before the interval, Knight sneaking the ball into the net from the back post for his sixth league goal of the season after Burrows' fine set-piece delivery from the left.

The U’s flipped the script before the break though, winning a free-kick just outside the area which Brannagan struck powerfully at the defensive wall, right into the arms of Burrows as he attempted to block the shot.

With the pressure on, Brannagan stepped up and calmly tucked the penalty into the bottom right-hand corner of Jed Steer’s net, restoring the Oxford advantage in the tie and shifting the momentum of the semi-final once more.

Peterborough’s tempo did not drop in the second half, Ricky-Jade Jones utilising his frightening pace to threaten down the left wing on numerous occasions and the home side piling the pressure on U’s keeper Cumming.

McGuane shot narrowly wide inside the final 10 minutes of regulation time, pulling a strike the wrong side of Steer’s post from a central position.

Posh relentlessly pushed in the final phases - and in the seven minutes of added time - with multiple shots but were unable to find the net.

Oxford and Bolton drew 0-0 when they met at the Toughsheet Stadium earlier this season but were then thumped 5-0 by the Trotters in March.

What the managers said

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

“I’m proud of my team, we absolutely battered them but you need a bit of luck in the play-offs and they got it all, the referee has missed a blatant penalty kick.

“This is where the season does end but I’m immensely proud of my team and for 120 minutes we were by far the better team in this tie.

“The fact that we conceded so quick after scoring is what cost us the tie.”

Oxford United manager Des Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford:

“I’m delighted and so proud of the playing group, it’s a very special moment for the football club.

“We knew they’d throw a lot at us but we stood up and showed good desire to defend what we had.

“We knew we would have to weather a storm but we didn’t think we would have to do it for quite as long as we did but I’m so happy for everyone at Oxford.”