December 2011

The four clubs are through to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area finals and are so close to Wembley that they can almost reach out and touch it.

For Bradford City, Brentford, Preston North End and Southend United, it is time to ‘concentrate on the league’ for another season, but not before the trophy thanks each club for bringing colour to this season’s competition.

In the northern section, the Bantams’ amazing trophy exploits finally caught up with them as they were beaten 2-0 by a vibrant Oldham Athletic.

Backed by 2,500 noisy travelling fans, Bradford found their fourth consecutive away trip to League One opponents a bridge too far, as Tom Adeyemi and Shefki Kuqi scored for the Latics.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was an interested onlooker and must have been impressed with the performance of his young winger Luca Scapuzzi, who is on loan at Boundary Park and had a hand in the first goal.

The Latics now face a two-legged area final against League One rivals Chesterfield - managed by Boundary Park legend John Sheridan - as they chase their first Wembley appearance since 1994.

Latics boss Paul Dickov said: “We are delighted to be through and there's a real buzz in the changing room.

“We are a good side and we want the players to keep believing that, although it's my job to keep their feet on the ground.”

Bantams boss Phil Parkinson has been proud of a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy campaign which saw them knock out both Sheffield clubs and Huddersfield.

“The lads have done the club proud in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and we've still got the FA Cup to look forward to as well as our league season,” he said.

It was a tighter affair at Deepdale, as Chesterfield prevailed against Preston North End.

With the game locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the nail biting prospect of penalties loomed.

The Spireites must have sensed it was their night when the ever dependable spot-kick taker Graham Alexander missed for North End, allowing Alexandre Mendy to grab the headlines with the decisive effort.

Chesterfield manager John Sheridan said the victory was just reward for his club’s set of fans.

"I'm just pleased for the players and the supporters because they've stayed with us all the way through, we've had a good following even with the conditions and there's a chance of Wembley.”

The biggest shock of the evening arrived at Underhill in the Battle of the Bees, where last season’s finalists Brentford were dumped out of the trophy, taking two consecutive team of the round awards with them as they exit.

Barnet keeper Dean Brill was the hero for his side, denying Marcus Bean, Toumani Diagouraga, Clayton Donaldson and Harlee Dean in normal time as the game finished 0-0.

The stopper, who starred for Luton Town in the 2009 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley, might now be dreaming of another trip to the Home of Football.

It was Danny Senda who kept his nerve to score the decisive penalty for his side once the game went to spot-kicks.

Barnet boss Lawrie Sanchez admitted he could not watch the shootout victory, which now sets up a Southern Area final with Swindon.

Sanchez famously struck the winner for Wimbledon in the 1988 FA Cup final, and only a two-legged tie with the Robins lies between him and a Wembley return as a manager.

“I didn't see the penalties but I think we scored all five and they were excellently taken,” said Sanchez. “You don't get to play at Wembley often and I've never managed there, although I've played there twice.”

Brentford manager Uwe Rosler was left to rue missed chances, and said: “It should have been over after the first 15 to 20 minutes.”

Paulo Di Canio has urged Swindon not to think about Wembley after they booked their place in the area final with a 2-1 win at Southend.

Goals from Paul Caddis and Ronan Murray put them through after Blair Sturrock had fired Southend ahead.

“Southend are top of our league and this was our first real challenge,” said Di Canio. “But I have told them that it is enough celebrating and now we must think about the league.

“I said `forget what has happened, but keep the best from this match and keep it going in the league`.”

Shrimpers boss Paul Sturrock added: “After going 1-0 up we dropped a couple of gears and dropped off and we paid the price for that.”

Johnstone's. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.