Posh Reach Wembley
Peterborough United are back at Wembley for the first time in 14 years after a penalty shoot-out success over Swindon Town at the County Ground with Tommy Rowe scoring the crucial spot-kick after a tense night.On four minutes, top scorer Britt Assombalonga powered a header from a Craig Alcock cross over the crossbar from eight-yards as Posh pushed for an early goal.
Goalkeeper Foderingham was called into action on 10 minutes to deny a snap-shot from Britt Assombalonga whose effort from distance swerved late nearly deceiving the Swindon shot-stopper.
Swindon felt they should have had a spot-kick on 13 minutes as Alcock tussled with N'Guessan, but the referee waved away the protests, although TV evidence suggested it should have probably been a penalty kick.
The lively Pritchard curled a 35-yards free-kick wide of the target moments later as the Robins pressed. Rowe missed his kick at the other end before Payne blazed over from the edge of the area.
Pritchard fired over on 26 minutes after finding a bit of room on the edge of the box. The deadlock was broken on 32 minutes and it was poor defending on two counts, first to allow Luongo to cross and then Alcock fired his clearance straight into the midriff of N'Guessan with the ball falling kindly to PRITCHARD who fired low past Olejnik and into the back of the net.
Boss Darren Ferguson made a switch at the break with loan signing Josh McQuoid replacing Vassell in attack.
Confusion between Olejnik and Knight-Percival allowed N'Guessan to nip in on 48 minutes, but his toe-poke struck the outside of the post via the legs of Olejnik.
Experienced midfielder Grant McCann replaced Payne just before the hour mark. Bostwick fired miles over the bar on 72 minutes as Posh continued to struggle to create anything in front of goal.
On 75 minutes, Posh drew themselves level as a Bostwick cross was met by ASSOMBALONGA for his 24th goal of the campaign.
McCann saw a late free kick pushed behind by goalkeeper Foderingham before Rowe and Bostwick saw efforts blocked. Right at the death, Rowe fired wide before the final whistle was blown, sending the tie to penalty kicks.
The penalty kicks were a tense affair and Posh were given an early lead as Luongo blazed his first spot kick over the bar. Britt Assombalonga scored to give Posh the lead. Kasim levelled matters but Michael Bostwick blazed straight down the middle to keep Posh in front.
Alex Pritchard coolly converted and then Danny Swanson saw his spot-kick saved as the momentum swung to the Robins. Archibald-Henville converted, while Grant McCann's effort was cool and composed.
Substitute Reis then blazed wide allowing skipper Tommy Rowe the chance to send Posh to Wembley and the captain coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Final Score: Swindon Town 1-1 Posh
After Penalty Kicks: Swindon Town 3-4 Posh
Swindon: Foderingham, Byrne, Luongo, Pritchard, N'Guessan (sub Gladwin 80min), Kasim, Thompson, Ward, Rossi-Branco, Murphy (sub Reis 85min), Archibald-Henville. Unused subs: Belford, Harley, Barthram.
Posh: Olejnik, Alcock, Brisley, Bostwick, Swanson, Payne (sub McCann 58min), Assombalonga, Vassell (sub McQuoid 46min), Rowe, Knight-Percival, Little. Unused subs: Day, Anderson, Newell.
Attendance: 6,825 (383 Posh fans)