Hatters block path to Wembley
first, of course, Harry Toffolo had to get himself on the scoresheet from the other side of the pitch, haring inside to receive a well held-up ball from Danny Ward.
A fortuitous bounce off an opponent’s leg as he tried to shimmy through only meant the ball sat up all the sweeter for the left-back to net his fifth goal in seven games.
And now, over to the right hand side. Holmes had perhaps his best game of the season as he continually rampaged into the opposition half from midfield to cross from the right, and after seeing a Ward effort he set up blocked by a last-ditch challenge and a shot of his own turned over the bar, he finally succeeded in forcing the second goal as he played in Ward to score from point-blank range.
A lucky deflection off a defender once again playing a part, but with Ward definitely appearing to the get the final touch.
From there it was little more than a procession of a second half as Corberan removed three key players to save them for Friday, while getting vital minutes into the legs of Levi Colwill – who was only able to train minimally in the build-up to this game – and Tino Anjorin, who continues to look a promising weapon for the play-offs. It
The other semi-final will be played between Forest and Sheffield United. The first leg of that game will take place on Saturday (3pm), while the second leg will kick off at 7.45pm on Tuesday, May 17.
The final will be played at Wembley on Sunday, May 29 (4.30pm).
Town go into the play-offs as the form side in the division after taking 19 points from their last seven games.
That included a 2-0 victory over Luton Town at home. The reverse fixture earlier in the season ended in a goalless draw.
all made for an enjoyable afternoon for the Town fans, but at the back of a few minds you could have found an acknowledgement of something Town’s players will need to face up to: things are now going to get very, very serious indeed. We can’t wait.