Summary

  • Preston reach League One play-off final

  • Beckford fires Preston into first-half lead

  • Garner nets penalty after Murphy foul

  • Beckford's second a brilliant long-range strike

  • Lilywhites face Sheff Utd or Swindon in final

  1. Preston heading to Wembleypublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Jermaine BeckfordImage source, Getty Images

    This chap scored three of the four goals that have sent Preston to the League One play-off final. Jermaine Beckford's 60-yard screamer will live long in the memory.

    Maybe it will be 10th time lucky in the play-offs for Preston, especially if their number 10 can keep up this sort of goalscoring form at Wembley on 24 May.

    Commiserations to Chesterfield, who have had a tremendous first season in League One and fell just short in the play-offs, but have given their fans plenty to be proud of.

    Join us later for the next instalment of the play-offs at around 18:00 BST, as Stevenage host Southend in League Two.

    Thanks for your company.

  2. Still to come...published at 14:35 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Two of the Football League's most charismatic managers take their teams into play-off battle this evening, as Graham Westley's Stevenage host Phil Brown's Southend.

    It's only seven years since Brown won the Championship play-offs as manager of Hull City...

    Phil BrownImage source, Getty Images

    ...while Westley was the Stevenage boss when they went up from League Two via the play-offs in 2011.

    Graham WestleyImage source, Getty Images

    BBC Sport's live text commentary begins at around 18:00 BST.

  3. Postpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Preston North EndImage source, Getty Images/BBC

    Preston striker and North End fan Joe Garner: "It's a great day for us all and hopefully we can finish the job off at Wembley. Preston usually do it the hard way, but hopefully we can get that result and send the fans home happy."

  4. Postpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    I'm sure there will be more on Paul Cook's future in the coming days...

  5. Postpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Chesterfield manager Paul Cook tells Sky Sports: "The easiest thing to do is to come on and say what's gone right and what's gone wrong. At times like this, you must compliment the players on how well they've played through the whole season. They're a credit to the club. Our honesty was there for all to see.

    "The most important thing is to congratulate Preston and wish them well in the final. They showed their quality today with some of their finishes and we wish them well at Wembley, as well as the other two teams (Sheffield United and Swindon) that are playing tomorrow night."

  6. Cook leaving Chesterfield?published at 14:31 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Paul Cook has been in charge of Chesterfield since October 2012, and guided them to promotion to League One last season, winning the fourth-tier title.

    League Two Portsmouth, meanwhile, have been managerless since their previous boss Andy Awford stepped down.

    The 2008 FA Cup winners finished 16th in the table this season.

  7. Cook leaving Chesterfield?published at 14:26 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    BBC Radio Sheffield reported last month that Chesterfield had refused Portsmouth permission to speak to Paul Cook, with the timing of the approach angering Spireites chief executive Chris Turner.

    "It's very disturbing at this time of the season - we've got a big game on Saturday," said Turner on 23 April. "We do not want Paul to leave, we want him to stay."

  8. Cook leaving Chesterfield?published at 14:24 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Paul CookImage source, Getty Images

    Some interesting news coming from BBC Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings on Twitter:

    "The Paul Cook era ends with a play-off loss to Preston. I understand a deal has been agreed that will see Cook become Portsmouth boss next week. BBC Radio Sheffield understands Chesterfield hope to make an announcement on his replacement by the end of the week.

    "Sources tell me former Doncaster boss Dean Saunders, Brian Deane and Leam Richardson are under consideration to become the next boss."

  9. Postpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Preston manager Simon Grayson tells Sky Sports: "They had some moments, we had some moments, but we know we're always going to get chances in our team with Gallagher, Garner and Beckford.

    "Obviously you can see how much it means to our supporters to get to Wembley, where hopefully we can finish off the job."

  10. Postpublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Speaking to Sky Sports, more from Preston striker Jermaine Beckford on his wonder goal: "I slipped! Towards the end of the game, my legs started to go. It's the only option I had, so I thought I'd have a go with the way my luck's been at the moment. It managed to fly in."

  11. Postpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Preston striker Jermaine Beckford tells Sky Sports: "It's a feeling of relief. I'm very grateful for the chance that's been given to me.

    "I'm happy we've got a chance to get rid of this hoodoo that's been hanging over us."

    Nine play-off failures out of nine for Preston before this year - can it be 10th time lucky?

  12. Postpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Simon Grayson has won promotion from the third tier with all of the three clubs he's previously managed - Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield.

    He's one win away from making it four with Preston North End.

  13. Postpublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Jamie Hoyland
    Ex-Bury and Burnley midfielder, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Fair play to the staff for picking the Preston players up - and fair play to the players for how they've performed over the two legs."

    A week ago, Preston missed out on automatic promotion. That seems a long time ago now.

  14. Postpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Pitch invasion

    As expected, there's a pitch invasion and most of the Preston players are being carried aloft by the home supporters. They're on their way to Wembley on 24 May for the League One play-off final.

    A 3-0 win today secured a 4-0 aggregate victory over Chesterfield, capped by Jermaine Beckford's astonishing strike from the halfway line in the dying minutes.

  15. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    PRESTON NORTH END REACH THE LEAGUE ONE PLAY-OFF FINAL.

  16. Postpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    There's a mass of Preston supporters heading down to the front of the stands and it wouldn't surprise me if there's a pitch invasion when the final whistle blows...

  17. Postpublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Jermaine Beckford has taken a bang to the head and is receiving some treatment. When he comes round, the physio will be telling him it wasn't a dream. He did actually score from the halfway line.

  18. Postpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Into four minutes of stoppage time now, but the game is all over.

  19. Postpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    You'll be watching that goal again and again and again. A superb opportunist strike, and some way to confirm your place at Wembley.

  20. GOAL (Beckford)published at 14:01 British Summer Time 10 May 2015

    Simon GraysonImage source, Getty Images

    Wow. Jermaine Beckford. What a goal.

    The striker picks the ball up inside his own half, spots Joe Murphy off his line and lobs him from 60 yards.

    That was special. Very, very special.