football

Happy Hull power past Hornets to join City in Wembley showdown

BRISTOL City will face Hull City at Wembley on Saturday, May 24 after the Humberside outfit thrashed Watford 4-1 in their Championship play-off semi-final second leg clash on Wednesday night to progress 6-1 on aggregate.

After falling behind to Darius Henderson's 12th minute strike for Watford, Hull roared back with a Nick Barmby equaliser before the break to restore their two-goal advantage before pulling away in the final 20 minutes with three more goals.

Hull, like their Bristol counterparts, have been the surprise package of the division this term and a fascinating and tension-filled encounter presents itself at the spanking-new Wembley Stadium.

Gary Johnson's men had already roared to the brink of the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Crystal Palace in front of a packed and delirious Ashton Gate on Tuesday night, many of whom spilled on to the pitch in celebration at the final whistle.

Defending a 2-1 lead from the Selhurst Park tussle three days prior, City began the game at a furious rate but were dealt a 24th minute setback to their hopes when Ben Watson looped an edge-of-box header over the floundering Adriano Basso, who had strayed from his line in a bid to meet Danny Butterfield's driven right-sided cross.

It got worse for City on 72 minutes when Tom Soares broke inside the Reds box and was caught late by the outstretched boot of Robins midfielder Nick Carle. But with the tie there for the taking, Watson turned from hero to villain in the eyes of aghast Eagles followers behind the goal by striking his spot kick against the base of Basso's right upright.

FRANTIC RESPONSE

The miss stirred City into a frantic response and after Lee Trundle, who enjoyed a magnificent game in an otherwise mediocre campaign by previous high standards in a Swansea shirt, had struck the bar with a cracking effort with normal time almost up, the Robins took a full grip of the contest in extra time.

With the first period coming to a conclusion, Scouse striker Trundle received the ball just outside the area and bent a beauty with his left foot beyond the despairing clutches of the diving Julian Speroni to level up the game and put City ahead on aggregate.

Five minutes into the second period of the added half-hour Michael McIndoe was wheeling away in ecstasy after powering a free-kick low past Speroni and into the net to give City an unbridgeable two-goal lead. With seconds remaining of the tie Palace manager Neil Warnock, who had criticised his opponents for what he deemed to be "over-exuberant" celebrations following their first-leg win in London, marched to shake the hand of his opposite number Johnson before turning to applaud jubilant Reds fans in the Williams Stand behind him.

Johnson found himself submerged by a barrage of fans at the final whistle before emerging to say: "We made a mistake for their (Palace's) goal but these things happen and the lads showed just how fit they are to rally as they did."

And chairman Steve Lansdown added: "I couldn't be more proud of the club; it's a magnificent achievement."

City have been allocated 36,007 tickets for the May 24 final (3pm).

SOCCER NEWS: Milsom makes his mind up to snap-up Cossham Street hot-seat

PAUL Milsom has agreed to take over the Mangotsfield United reins after finally agreeing terms with the Cossham Street club.

Milsom, who in conjunction with midfielder Jon French brilliantly steered the Mangos to safety during the latter weeks of the 2007-08 BGB Southern Premier season with relegation looking a nigh-certainty, had taken time out to weigh up the playing budget on offer to him - one that was recently improved - among other considerations.

The highly-respected centre-back, who had to quit playing for a spell late last term after suffering blackouts and dizzy spells, is waiting for the outcome of a series of tests which he hopes will determine whether he can resume playing or not.

If he does continue with his on-field commitments then Milsom will recruit the services of a No.2 to oversee activities from pitchside on matchdays. An interview with the new Field supremo, who first took over the reins in a caretaker capacity from Frank Gregan and his backroom team, will be presented here soon.

Forest Green Rovers, who looked a good bet for a play-off place in the Blue Square Premier until falling away in the latter weeks, have confirmed that Danny Carey-Bertram, Lee Dodgson, Mark Preece, Anthony Tonkin, Lorcan Sheehan and Chris Giles have all been released.

It remains likely that goal ace Stuart Fleetwood, the club's supporters' player of the year, will move on, although the New Lawn outfit have offered him a new deal to consider. Alex Lawless was named Rovers' players' player of the year while former Bristol City defender Darren Jones won the directors' vote.

Tony Ricketts is set to remain in charge of Weston-super-Mare, despite the shock of their relegation from the Blue Square South, although his assistant, Chris Smith, is thought to be debating his immediate future. Wayne Powell has been confirmed as Clevedon Town's new manager in the wake of Phil Bater's decision to step down.

Yate Town are Gloucestershire County Youth League champions following a 3-1 victory over Cadbury Heath.

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