Hear we go as Beck ford lifts Preston

JERMAINE Beckford was the big noise at Wembley with a fi ne hat- trick to send Preston rocking and rolling back into the Championship.

Beckford, on loan from Bolton, almost quit football earlier this season after an ear infection became so bad that he lost consciousness.

But yesterday he heard the chants of delight as he stole the show in the League One play- off fi nal.

“I did not think this day would be possible,” said Beckford as he clutched the match ball. “We did a fantastic job and it just shows the character we have.”

Beckford scored after just three minutes as he volleyed home from close range before Paul Huntington nipped in for the second with the

PRESTON SWINDON 4 0

Watched by their former manager David Moyes, Preston turned on the style.

The play- offs have been their worse curse. Perhaps that was why they were so pumped up to begin this match in such a frenetic way, with Beckford being brought down by Swindon captain Nathan Thompson.

From the free- kick, ecstasy and agony in one fell swoop. Paul Gallagher curled the ball in, Beckford overpowered Nathan Thompson to fi re the ball home, but the Swindon defender went crashing to the ground and had to be taken off on a stretcher with a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

It was just not Swindon’s day and when Gallagher