.jpg) Wembley Stadium | |||||||
| Event | 1993–94 Football League Third Division | ||||||
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| Date | 28 May 1994 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Referee | Keith Cooper | ||||||
| Attendance | 40,109 | ||||||
The 1994 Football League Third Division play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 1994 at the Wembley Stadium, London, between Wycombe Wanderers and Preston North End. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Third Division, English football's fourth tier, to the Second Division. The top three teams of the 1993–94 Third Division season gained automatic promotion to the Second Division, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh took part in play-off semi-finals, the winners of which competed for the final place for the 1994–95 season in the Second Division. Wycombe Wanderers finished the season in fourth place, and Preston North End in fifth. They defeated Carlisle United and Torquay United, respectively, in the semi-finals.
The referee for the match, played in front of 40,109 spectators, was Keith Cooper. Wycombe dominated the first half but in the 32nd minute, Preston took the lead through Ian Bryson with a overhead kick which beat Paul Hyde in the Wycombe goal. Wycombe equalised straight from the subsequent kick-off with Steve Thompson's shot being put into the net by Jamie Squires for an own goal. In the 37th minute, Preston took the lead once more, with Paul Raynor's diving header; the half ended 2–1. Wycombe drew level two minutes into the second with a goal from Simon Garner. Ten minutes later, a four-man play from Wycombe concluded with Steve Guppy's cross being passed by Garner to Dave Carroll who scored at the far post to make it 3–2. Fifteen minutes later Carroll scored his second after beating David Moyes 18 yards (16 metres) out from goal, making it 4–2. No further goals were scored and Wycombe were promoted to the Second Division at their first attempt.
In their following season, Wycombe Wanderers finished in sixth place in the Second Division, one place outside the play-offs. Preston North End ended their next season in fifth position in the Third Division, qualifying for the play-offs, but losing their semi-final to Bury.