Preston North End cruised into the Sky Bet League 1 Play-Off Final with a 3-0 second-leg victory over Chesterfield at Deepdale.
Jermaine Beckford proved to be the difference in the first leg at the Proact Stadium and he was on target twice in the reverse fixture on Sunday lunchtime to send the Lilywhites to Wembley.He opened the scoring in the 38th minute following a Joe Garner flick-on, before Garner found the net himself from the penalty spot on the hour mark, after the Spireites’ loanee goalkeeper Joe Murphy felled Daniel Johnson.
Then Beckford took centre stage again, saving his best goal of the tie for the 87th minute. He picked up the ball near the halfway line and turned his man before launching a speculative effort at goal, which flew beyond Murphy and into the top corner.
It was a breathtaking strike, and one that capped off a strong performance from Simon Grayson’s side, who will now face either Swindon Town or Sheffield United under the arch at the national stadium on Sunday 24th May for a place in the Sky Bet Championship.
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