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(QPR win 2-1 on aggregate)
A Paul Furlong strike eight minutes from time secured a narrow 1-0 play-off semi-final second leg victory for Queens Park Rangers over Oldham Athletic at a passionate Loftus Road this evening.
Furlong's goal was enough for the Londoners to progress through to the final 2-1 on aggregate, after the first game had ended in a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park last Saturday.
Following a night of high tension in West London in which both sides had chances to seal victory, it was the experienced Furlong who notched the only goal of the game, seizing on a through ball from the hosts' Marc Birham before expertly shooting low past advancing Latics' keeper, Les Pogliacomi.
As tempers became frayed towards the end, the visitor's had Wayne Andrews sent off, but undeterred the Lancashire club almost forced extra time, home custodian Chris Day saving brilliantly to deny veteran David Eyres.
Ian Holloway's jubilant side now face Lennie Lawrence's Cardiff City at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday 25th May in the Nationwide Second Division final, for a place in the Nationwide First Division next season.