SI’S CUT OUT FOR SUCCESS
Oxford penalty hero is lifted by picture of late gran in stand
Harrison 45+3 og
Wycombe
2
Harness 38
Fleetwood
2
Agg 6-3
FRED ONYEDINMA sealed Wycombe’s Wembley spot after Joey Barton’s Fleetwood gave them a fright.
The Chairboys livewire (left) netted twice to cancel out goals from Danny Andrew and Ched Evans to set up an M40 derby with Oxford. Gareth Ainsworth’s men won 4-1 in Lancashire last Friday but were second best for much of last night.
Andrew drilled in on 22 minutes, with Onyedima levelling after the break. Evans sent Ryan Allsop the wrong way after Joe Jacobson fouled Barrie Mckay. But Onyedinma made sure in stoppage time.
SIMON EASTWOOD was inspired by a cardboard cut-out of his late granny as his penalty save took Oxford to Wembley.
As Portsmouth suffered League One play-off semi-final heartbreak for the second year running, in the cruellest fashion, Eastwood’s sprawling save in the shoot-out proved decisive.
With the face-off deadlocked at 3-3, Pompey’s Cameron Mcgeehan blinked first – Eastwood plunging low to his right to make the critical stop.
On-loan Liverpool midfielder Cameron Brannagan buried the winning spot-kick – and Eastwood revealed a familiar face was among the 1,500 cutout fans behind the goal.
He said: “A few lads have cardboard cut-out members of their families here – my gran passed away over Christmas and she was among them.
“Was I thinking about her during the shoot-out?
“Yes, and it was a bit weird because I’ve never been involved in anything like that before, but I like to think she was looking down on me.”
Oxford boss Karl Robinson beamed: “We are ecstatic, and now we are one step away from achieving our goal before the season started. Not one player on either side let anyone down.”
A handful of Pompey fans enjoyed a free view of the action from pallets stacked on the back of a pick-up truck in the car park behind one goal at the Kassam – and they were celebrating after 38 minutes.
Marcus Harness smuggled his 20-yard shot through Elliott Moore’s legs and past the unsighted Oxford keeper.
But the advantage lasted just 10 minutes.
Ellis Harrison and goalkeeper Alex Bass crossed wires in their efforts to clear James Henry’s swirling corner, the Pompey forward debited with an own goal as referee Darren England’s watch buzzed to signal the ball had barely crossed the line.
Crestfallen Pompey manager Kenny Jackett said: “That’s two years running we have been knocked out in the play-offs – next year we must raise the standard and go one better.”