a second yellow card, forcing Burton to play the last 30 minutes with ten men. Despite late chances for the visitors, Burton held on for a 1–0 victory. The second leg of the play-off semi-final was held at Roots Hall in Southend six days later. Midway through the first half, Burton extended their aggregate lead when Marcus Holness scored with a header from a Chris Hussey free kick. Ryan Leonard then reduced the deficit with an overhead kick before Anthony Straker's headed goal made it 2–1 to Southend at half-time. McGurk scored from a Hussey free kick midway through the second half to make it 2–2 on the day, with Burton progressing to the final with a 3–2 aggregate victory. Fleetwood faced York City in the other play-off semi-final, with the first leg taking place at Bootham Crescent in York on 12 May 2014, having been delayed by a day because of a waterlogged pitch. The first half was short on chances and ended goalless. Five minutes after half-time Matty Blair put Fleetwood ahead from close range after Antoni Sarcevic had seen his shot blocked on the line. Iain Hume missed a chance to double the lead and the match ended 1–0 to the visitors. The second leg of the play-off semi-final took place at Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood four days later. The home goalkeeper Chris Maxwell made saves from both Michael Coulson and Keith Lowe while Nick Pope, his opposite number, denied Sarcevic. The match ended goalless and Fleetwood qualified for the final, winning 1–0 on aggregate. Match Background Of the finalists, only Burton had participated in the play-offs prior to 2014 when they took part in them the previous season. There, they had been knocked out at the semi-final stage by Bradford City 5–4 on aggregate. Fleetwood's last visit to Wembley was for the 1985 FA Vase Final which they lost against Halesowen Town while Burton had featured at the national stadium in the 1987 FA Trophy Final which ended in a 0–0 draw with Kidderminster Harriers. Both teams were aiming for promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in either club's histories. Burton had played in the fourth tier since they gained promotion from the Football Conference in the 2008–09 season. Fleetwood were promoted to League Two after winning the Football Conference in the 2011–12 season. The play-off final was the fifth