Venue - Leeds Road

Date - Thursday May 14th 1992

Wembley bound and how they deserve it.

A magnificent second half fight back, capped by a superb goal from substitute Steve Cooper four minutes from time, has sent Posh marching proudly down Wembley Way for the first time in the club's history. And who can quibble that this set of players has not earned the right to play at the greatest stadium in the land.

For sheer courage and commitment there cannot be a better side in the country. It was those attributes added to some quality finishing that allowed Posh ultimate victory in this tense, but always thrilling, Third Division play-off semi final with Huddersfield.

The winning goal, lovingly created and clinically executed, would have graced Wembley itself. Tony Adcock's vision and persistence from a left wing position freed Bobby Barnes down the right, Barnes crossed perfectly with the same right leg that almost ended his career recently and Cooper flung himself powerfully to send a scorching header past the home keeper. It was super subs first goal for the club and it couldn't have been better timed, just four minutes remained and although Dave Robinson had to divert two goalbound efforts wide in that time Posh hung on for a famous victory.

Ironically Cooper had entered the fray in place of Worrall Sterling who had injured himself putting Posh back on terms on 70 minutes. Slightly more direct this one with goalkeeper Fred Barber's long kick headed on by Adcock for Sterling to outpace the home defence and poke the ball past Tim Clarke in the Huddersfield goal with his right boot. Until Sterling's priceless intervention it looked as if Posh's valiant efforts were coming to nothing.

They absorbed a second minute blow, were almost floored a couple of other times in a nervy first half and watched agonisingly as several half chances after the break were fritted away. Huddersfield started perfectly. Just two minutes had gone and young Chris Billy tore away down the right wing shadowed by Ronnie Robinson. Crucially Robinson slipped and Billy raced unopposed to the by-line before crossing for Phil Starbuck to volley home from just outside the six-yard box.

Welsh International Iwan Roberts immediately headed a free kick straight at Barber and Huddersfield's leading scorer should have made it 2-0 just past the half hour. He turned Dave Robinson with ease on the edge of the box, breezed past Steve Welsh, but fortunately placed his shot wide of the post.

Posh had a 6-1 corner count in their favour in the first 45 minutes but never threatened to score. Billy came close right on the whistle when he beat Ronnie Robinson's under hit back pass the ball bobbled wide.

The second half was a different story as Posh added menace to their make-up and the mood of the game changed dramatically. Marcus Ebdon was outstanding in the middle of the park. Full back Noel Luke enjoyed his most rewarding game for some time by completely snuffing out the dangerous Iffy Onuora. Barnes gave an incredible display on the wing considering his knee problems. The slippery winger made mistakes through rustiness, but operating exclusively down the right offered far more threat that other players tried out wide lately.

However, it was Barnes that missed Posh's first clear-cut chance ten minutes after the re-start, Adcock's presence caused Clarke to flap and Barnes took it past a prostrate keeper but fired wide. Clarke also looked vulnerable on the floor as he showed when he immediately allowed a Peter Jackson back header to slip through his grasp. He was nowhere when Ronnie Robinson's 30 yard right footer skidded past and hit the outside of the post.

Welsh was given a free-header from a Halsall corner which Clarke blocked before watching Ken Charlery volley over, Charlery then just failed to reach Luke's excellent through ball. The feeling grew that Posh was not going to get the run of the ball, but all that turned on Sterling's equaliser.

Almost immediately Barber made a brilliant one-handed stop from Kieran O'Regan's low shot. Minutes later O'Regan had a threatening run halted by Luke's excellent sliding tackle. Then Billy blazed over from six yards out.

But Cooper did manage to hit the target in those fraught, final minutes. That was enough to turn the Wembley dream into reality. The second division now looms large on the horizon one final episode in this season of fantasy and fairy tales awaits us.

Over 2.000 jubilant Posh fans stayed in the ground for over an hour after the final whistle to salute their heroes. Ten times that number can be expected to make the trip to London on the big day.

Ecstatic Posh manager Chris Turner, chaired from the pitch by city supporters, was almost overcome with emotion. "It's a great night for everyone at the club and everyone in the city". Said Turner "I hope we've given them a night to remember".

There were 31 arrests, mainly for public order offences, and four policemen were treated for slight injuries. A city fan suffered a slight stab wound. Huddersfield fans invaded the pitch at the end of the match before trouble spilled over into the town centre when shop windows were smashed.

Teams:

Huddersfield Town - Clarke, Trevitt, Charlton, Kelly, Mitchell, Jackson, O’Regan, Billy, Roberts, Starbuck, Onuora. Subs:Barnett, Wright.

Peterborough United - Barber, Luke, R, Robinson, Halsall, D Robinson, Welsh, Sterling, Ebdon, Adcock, Charlery, Barnes. Subs: S.Cooper, Howarth.

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