THEY came, they scored three times... but they could not quite conquer.

In a last-four clash that would have graced the Old Trafford final, only a dramatic penalty shootout denied Cherries a tilt at winning a place in the Championship.

An enthralling Galpharm Stadium contest, which neither team had deserved to lose, ended in the cruellest of fashions for Lee Bradbury and his heroic troops.

While Town quartet Lee Novak, Danny Ward, Kevin Kilbane and Antony Kay netted from the spot, Liam Feeney and Anton Robinson were less fortunate as Cherries bowed out 4-2 on penaties.

Feeney was denied when Town goalkeeper Ian Bennett saved to his left before Robinson crashed his spot kick against the crossbar. Successful conversions from Michael Symes and Shaun Cooper proved academic. It will be scant consolation to Cherries and their army of followers that this semi-final was a tremendous advertisement for League One. Although the Terriers won the lottery, honours finished even in the battle, even though it counted for little as Town prevailed following a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

The fact Huddersfield and their supporters afforded Bradbury’s men a standing ovation told its own story. All season, and against all the odds, the players have done the club and the town proud. Above all, they have done themselves proud.

It was a case of so near and yet so far as Cherries twice came from behind to take the lead before they were pegged back. Normal time was as absorbing as the 30 minutes of extra time.

Cherries summoned every sinew and drew on all their resources after coming under heavy fire during the early stages. But as a blood-and-thunder game evolved, Bradbury’s men became stronger and grew in confidence. The Terriers knew this was going to be no cakewalk. It had everything.

Town started at breakneck speed when midfielder Gary Roberts’s stinging drive warmed Jalal’s hands after just 26 seconds. And as Cherries continued to come under the cosh during the early stages, Adam Smith’s block prevented another Roberts piledriver testing Jalal.

Disaster struck for Cherries when Town’s pressure told midway through the first half, Lee Peltier heading home the opening goal following a corner. The former Liverpool youngster arrived to meet Roberts’s delivery, his effort dropping into the back of the net off the post.

Chances were hard to come by for Cherries during the opening period, Donal McDermott forcing Town goalkeeper Bennett into his first noteworthy save 10 minutes before the break.

However, in a repeat of Saturday’s first leg, Cherries were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty two minutes before half-time. Referee Neil Swarbrick had no hesitation in pointing to the spot after Smith had been sent sprawling by Peter Clarke’s clumsy tackle.

Town could have had few complaints with the decision and Bennett was unable to reproduce his heroics from Dean Court as Lovell emphatically despatched the spot kick.

Parity, however, lasted barely two minutes as Cherries made the cardinal sin of conceding at one of the worst possible times.

With virtually the last kick of the first half, Town’s Bolton Wanderers loan star Ward profited from a slip by Robinson and was afforded space to take aim from just outside the 18-yard box.

And the 19-year-old, a beaten League One play-off finalist with Swindon last season, curled a delightful left-foot strike past the outstretched right hand of Jalal to restore Town’s lead.

Jordan Rhodes squandered a glorious chance to put the tie to bed when he contrived to scoop an effort over the crossbar after being invitingly teed up by Naysmith.

Lovell dug deep into his experience bank to fire Cherries back on level terms with a goal of supreme quality after 63 minutes. Having collected a cross from Rhoys Wiggins, the 30-year-old’s clever shimmy left marker Clarke on his backside on the edge of the box. Lovell then took another touch to round Bennett before smashing a left foot shot into the roof of the net.

Cherries had an escape when Afobe burst through in the 75th minute, the striker lifting his shot over the crossbar before Danny Hollands arrived to meet with a firm header a corner from Liam Feeney, only for the midfielder’s effort to find the hands of Bennett.

Jalal was equal to a blistering drive from Ward at the start of the first period of extra time before Ings nodded Cherries in front after 104 minutes, the teenager hanging in the air to guide Pugh’s pinpoint cross past Bennett.

However, there was a nasty sting for Cherries when Town responded almost immediately, Kay powering home a Roberts corner just a minute later.

To add insult to injury for Cherries, skipper Jason Pearce saw red with eight minutes remaining, the defender harshly dismissed for a crunching, but fair, challenge on Kilbane.

Huddersfield: (4-4-2) Bennett; Hunt, Kay, Clarke, Naysmith; Ward, Peltier (McCombe, 93), Kilbane, Roberts; Afobe (Lee, 109), Rhodes (Novak, 67).

Unused subs: Arfield, Gudjonsson, Lee, Cadamarteri, Colgan (g/k).

Booked: Naysmith, Kilbane, Hunt, Clarke.

Cherries: (4-4-2) Jalal 7; Smith 7, Cooper 8, Pearce 7.5, Wiggins 8.5; Feeney 6.5, Robinson 7.5, Hollands 8, McDermott 7.5 (Pugh, 77); Ings 7.5 (Baudry, 114), Lovell 8 (Symes, 93).

Unused subs: Fletcher, Arter, Cummings, Thomas (g/k).

Booked: McDermott, Lovell, Smith, Ings.

Sent off: Pearce.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Attendance: 16,444 .