After a manic end to the 1998/99 First Division season, the Hornets confirmed a play-off position with seven wins in their last eight matches. It guaranteed that Watford would take on Birmingham City in the play-off semi-finals.

Graham Taylor’s Golden Boys were in fine form and carried that guile and craft into the first chapter of the two-legged story at Vicarage Road.

Although narrow, a 1-0 victory gave the Watford faithful confidence when entering St Andrew’s for the return fixture. A place at Wembley Stadium awaited the victor.

The build-up was far from straightforward as before a ball had been kicked the team bus had got stuck in traffic, eventually arriving less than an hour before kick-off.

"I suppose looking back it was surprising we didn’t have a police escort as sometimes in big cities you did," said Hornets goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain.

"Unfortunately, the M6 misbehaved and we got stuck on there for a fair bit of time.

"We had to quickly get stripped and get out and warmed up. It was a bit of a microwave warm-up and before we knew it we were back in - quick preparation and then back out for the game."

    This setback was coupled with a ferocious atmosphere inside St Andrew’s once the whistle blew for kick-off.

With the away fans eventually making their way into the stadium, they were greeted by the worst possible start. Birmingham wiped out Watford’s one-goal lead from the first leg after just two minutes through Dele Adebola.

"Unfortunately it did transpire that we didn’t start the game very well," said Chamberlain.

"We conceded the goal in the first few minutes and after that it was a bit of a battle, obviously with them with their tails up."

Adebola and his teammates continued to pepper Chamberlain’s goal during the first half. The shot stopper, who had been an ever-present throughout that campaign, produced a plethora of important saves in-between the sticks to keep Birmingham to just one.

It meant that by the interval Watford had been inspired to fight back as Richard Johnson and Nigel Gibbs tried their luck from range but were unable to test the Birmingham keeper.

Once the attending supporters had enjoyed a chance to catch their breath, the whistle was blown to commence a vital second half.

    The Golden Boys started brightly as Peter Kennedy drifted a ball towards Tommy Mooney, but the Watford legend was unable to guide it goalward when unmarked at the near post. The game swiftly turned on its head as it became hard-hitting and aggressive - the pressure began to boil over.

David Holdsworth was awarded two yellow cards and received his marching orders, reducing Birmingham to 10 men and breathing life into Watford’s crusade.

Now in the temporary ascendency, the Hornets began to return the pressure that had been exerted on them in the first half.

Mooney, Johnson and Darren Bazeley were key components to unlocking the Blues, but were unable to create any meaningful, clear-cut opportunities despite the advantage in numbers.

With the all-important winner alluding Watford going into the final quarter of the encounter, the St Andrew’s crowd reinvigorated the Birmingham City players.

    Chamberlain was once again pivotal in denying the Blues with a spate of saves, as the travelling Watford contingent held their breath.

The keeper's most vital stop denied Michael Johnson's header in stoppage time at the end of the second half.

"It was a sharp save," Chamberlain said. "You don’t like to big yourself up but it was really important at the time as it kept us in the tie.

"From the significance of the save it was as good a save as I made."

As both sides were inseparable, extra-time was called upon and followed ultimately by penalties.

Going into the shootout, Chamberlain’s penalty-saving history had delivered mixed fortunes, having only saved three out of 37, despite a more than impressive clean-sheet record.

This statistic proved to be motivation for the Watford goalkeeper as he rebuffed former Hornet Paul Furlong’s spot-kick, Birmingham’s first, to set the tone for the shootout.

"Kenny Jackett came up to me before the penalties started and told me he hadn’t any idea about anyone else, but he thought he knew where Paul Furlong would go, and that was to my right," said Chamberlain.

"He struck it quite well but with that knowledge from Kenny I committed to it and I got a good hand to it. I have to take my hat off and give credit to Kenny for that information."

Although that save would put the Golden Boys 1-0 up in the shootout, that season’s Player of the Season Steve Palmer would miss the second from 12-yards and after 11 more heart-aching penalties, the score was equal at six-a-piece.

    Watford’s Alon Hazan converted the next penalty meaning that Chris Holland had to score to keep the Blues in the game.

That once fierce atmosphere was now palpably nervous. The Golden Boys’ man of the moment Chamberlain denied the Blues’ midfielder, sparking wild celebrations on the pitch, in the away dugout, and among the travelling supporters.

"It came to sudden death and our lads had been incredible," said Chamberlain.

"I just had a feeling that he [Holland] was particularly feeling the nerves, it was written all over his face and he looked very, very tense.

"He placed the ball down and his body language wasn’t confident. It was just a matter of going the right way. I knew I was going to save it and I started smiling before the ball got to me."

That incredibly vital stop confirmed Watford’s place at Wembley Stadium to take on Bolton Wanderers with a place in the Premier League up for grabs. More on that HERE.

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