Huddersfield Town 2 - 2 Lincoln City

But Danny Schofield's 57th-minute penalty and Edwards' 83rd-minute drive clinched a 2-2 draw for the Terriers which was good enough for a 4-3 aggregate win.

This was always going to be a full-blooded affair and Town striker Iffy Onuora's early clash with Ellison was testament to that.

But the only chance during the frenetic opening exchanges fell to Anthony Lloyd, whose weak shot was comfortably gathered by Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott.

Town strung together the best move in the 23rd minute when Onuora headed down for Andy Booth, with the veteran's volley well held by Marriott.

Lincoln spurned a gilt-edged chance to level the aggregate when Jamie McCombe headed Ellison's corner wide of Paul Rachubka's left post 10 minutes later.

Then Gary Fletcher hooked Simon Yeo's pull-back just wide of the other post as Town creaked at the back.

But the home side were made to pay dearly when Lincoln turned the tie with two goals in a minute.

First Butcher stole in to take advantage of a defensive mix-up and, straight from the restart, Ellison raced on to a long ball forward and despatched a shot from the edge of the area to give the Imps a 3-2 half-time advantage.

Yeo had Rachubka at full stretch again shortly after, forcing the keeper to dive low to his right to parry a left-foot drive for a corner.

Referee Mike Pike then turned down home claims for a penalty when Ben Futcher looked to have handled in the box. To the fury of a partisan crowd, play was waved on.

But in the 57th minute Mr Pike did point to the spot, this time when Lincoln defender McCombe tripped Booth in the box and Danny Schofield held his nerve to level the aggregate scores at 3-3.

Boss Jackson sent on young gun McAliskey in place of Onuora in the 64th minute and, in a see-saw encounter, it was Town's turn to press.

Booth whipped in a deep cross and, when Marriott dropped the ball under pressure from Sodje, Schofield just failed to connect.

Then from a throw-in the ball bounced kindly for McAliskey, but the big striker headed just wide.

But the goal all of Huddersfield had been waiting for sent the McAlpine into raptures.

Booth got the ball caught under his feet on the edge of the box and club skipper Edwards lashed the ball home first time to leave Marriott stranded.

Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson hailed Rob Edwards' late winner as 'the most important goal he'll ever score' after the club skipper fired his side into a play-off final showdown at the Millennium Stadium.

'He's scored the most vital goal of his career.'

Jackson joked he could not repeat what he told his players during the interval, but was delighted with their response after a poor first-half display.

'It was an excellent comeback,' Jackson added.'In the first half we could've been 4-0 down. I was extremely disappointed.

'I said it would take a mighty achievement to get back in the game, but we did it.

'At 2-0 down I could see all the clichis in the papers, 'Town freeze again' - it was another massive crowd we played in front of - but this time the lads responded.'

Lincoln counterpart Keith Alexander could not hide his frustration and was furious that referee Mike Pike awarded Town their second-half spot-kick.

'I'm disappointed with the decisions. I've been at the club two years and I don't think I've had a decision go our way.

'I've been watching the replays again on the telly and I think it's a diabolical penalty decision. The ref didn't give it and he's two yards away and the linesman gives it and then the ref gives it.

'I feel sorry for the supporters who've come a long way. At half-time we were 2-0 up and coasting.

'Obviously then it's who wants to get the first goal and with 20,000 people it makes a difference.'