HOT-SHOT STRIKER Kevin Phillips equalled a 36-season record to set Sunderland on their way to the Nationwide League First Division play-off final at Wembley. A limping Phillips steered home his side's second goal - after Sheffield United defender Nicky Marker had given the Wearsiders the lead with an own goal - for his 34th of the season to match the 1961-62 post-War record of Brian Clough. It was nothing more than Peter Reid's team deserved as they dominated the opening 45 minutes and could easily have been 4-0 up at the break. Everything indicated a Sunderland victory was on the cards. They had not lost at the Stadium of Light since the end of September, while United had not won away since November. And it took just 21 minutes, and a small slice of luck, for Sunderland to ease the tension as Allan Johnston's 20-yard cross-cum-shot was deflected past United keeper Simon Tracey by the unfortunate Marker. Sunderland continued to press, with a Phillips lob and 20-yard snap-shot both just clearing the woodwork before he finally netted in the 39th minute. Nicky Summerbee's drive through a crowded penalty area eluded the panic-stricken United defence and was comfortably sidefooted home by Phillips. Within the next two minutes a Johnston 18-yard drive struck the left-hand post and only a fingertip stop from Tracey prevented a Niall Quinn header from making it 3-0. The second half seemed to offer the visitors no hope of salvation, and it wasn't until the 60th minute, and the introduction of broken-hand victim Graham Stuart for Marker, that United finally threatened. Several Sunderland goalmouth skirmishes ensued and it took a few desperate clearances to ease the fraying nerves as the Blades searched for the goal to level the aggregate scores. Within the space of 60 seconds Sunderland goalkeeper Lionel Perez pulled off three sensational saves to prevent United from grabbing the goal they so desperately needed. The first came when Stuart played a delightful one-two on the edge of the area with Saunders, before unleashing a right-foot shot which Perez tipped round the left-hand post. During the next Blades attack Marcelo whipped in a right-wing cross for Paul Devlin to rifle in a 15-yard rocket which the Frenchman acrobatically tipped away, and from the rebound Saunders' stooping header was also kept out by Perez. But Sunderland survived their scares to win the match - and deservedly so. They were clearly the better side over the two legs and will now face Charlton in what should be a superb promotion decider at Wembley.

FOR PETE'S SAKE! REID OWES IT TO LIONEL   WEMBLEY-bound Sunderland boss Peter Reid said after last night's 2-0 win over Sheffield United: Our goalkeeper Lionel Perez kept us in it with two marvellous saves and we had that wonderful support too." With a Wembley final against Charlton Athletic looming, Reid said: I just sent them out there and told them to defend properly and they did that. I've played in some of the greatest stadiums in the world but the Stadium of Light is awesome. I'm just delighted to meet Charlton at Wembley I might take the lads away now to play golf. Somewhere where there's a training pitch. I need to get them out of Sunderland, because it's going to be a bit lively up here. Wembley is a great place to play football, and my lads deserve to play there for a Premiership place. Kevin Phillips sent the 40,092 at the Stadium of Light into hysteria with his 38th minute goal that virtually assured Sunderland an aggregate victory. The strike gave Sunderland the lead as Phillips equalled Brian Clough's post-war record of 34 goals in a season. Afterwardds the hero admitted: We knew we had to get the early goal to get all square, but for me to score the winner and equal the record was something special. Yes, a record like that means something to me and now I've got the chance to actually break it at Wembley. SUNDERLAND: Perez, Holloway, Gray, Clark, Craddock, Williams, Summerbee, Ball, Quinn, Phillips (Dichio 76), Johnston Subs Not Used: Rae, Ord Booked: Johnston, Dichio SHEFFIELD UNITED: Tracey, Wilder, Quinn, Ford (Dellas 71), Sandford, Holdsworth, Saunders, Marker (Stuart 58), Devlin, Marcello (Morris 81), Hamilton Booked: Wilder, Sandford, Holdsworth Att: 40,092 Ref: M E Pierce (Portsmouth)

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