A CRACKING game of football saw Brentford reach the Championship play-off final at Wembley after beating Bournemouth 3-1 (3-2 agg), reports the Voice of Sport from the Brentford Community Stadium.

This match had everything; goals, a red card and a passionate 4,000 crowd in west London. This was the tie that would see either team just 90 minutes from the Holy Grail that is the Premier League.

Bournemouth held a slender 1-0 lead coming into this make-or-break fixture. They were to add to that advantage within five minutes.

From a breakaway after a Brentford corner, Arnaut Danjuma found himself on his own, after running half the length of the field to neatly fire home past David Raya. It was now 2-0 on aggregate and a long way back for the home side.

At this stage the home crowd were vexed and agitated while compelling referee Jarred Gillett to give free-kicks to their heroes at every opportunity. They were to get their wish in the 15^th minute after Lloyd Kelly handled a cross in the penalty area as the hosts attacked.

Championship Golden Boot Ivan Toney held his nerve to fire home the penalty to register his 32^nd goal of the campaign. Game on!

Bournemouth were now all over the place defensively with crowd and match pressure leading to poor decision making. They paid a price for that sloppiness when Chris Mepham was sent off for hauling down Bryan Mbeumo as he bore down on goal; there could only be one outcome – a red card for the Welsh defender just before the half-hour mark.

Thereafter it was all Brentford. How Toney missed with a header on 33 minutes when inside the six-yard box was anyone’s guess. Rico cleared off his line minutes later as a vociferous crowd urged on the men in red and white.

For all Brentford’s huffing and puffing, however, Bournemouth ‘keeper and captain Asmir Begovic was not unduly extended. His biggest danger was a yellow card for constant time wasting.

The half-time whistle went and Brentford needed to calm down while Bournemouth needed to hold on.

Despite being a man down, Dominic Solanke drew a smart save from Raya which led to a corner.

Brentford were to make a definitive response. Five minutes into the second period Vitaly Janelt ensured the roof came off the new stadium when he fired home to make it 2-2 on aggregate.

The visitors were in trouble now with just ten men and time on Brentford’s side. The Bees were buzzing at this stage. It seemed just a matter of time before fired up Brentford but they made their fans wait.

Toney fired over the bar in the 70^th minute after yet another Mbeumo run and cross and was wayward with a header just after. Begovic denied Emiliano Marcondes with a flying save as home pressure mounted.

Marcus Forss struck the winner with just nine minutes remaining and his team are now just a game away from their ultimate goal.

Wembley now beckons for Bees while another season in the unpredictable grind of the Championship awaits Bournemouth.

Bees boss Thomas Frank did a lap of appreciation pre-match to fire up his team’s fans. If he does another next week, most likely Brentford may well be in the Premier League come the afternoon of May 29.