Preston finished two points behind Milton Keynes Dons (who were promoted in second place) and ten behind league winners Bristol City.

Sam Ricketts equalised for the visitors with a header but Nathan Byrne's low strike in injury time from 18 yards (16 m) beat Mark Howard to ensure Swindon won the match 2–1.

Nathan Thompson scored an own goal a minute later, and United's Chris Basham's header made it 3–2 in Swindon's favour at half time.

Smith scored his second, and Swindon's fourth of the match, from the penalty spot, before Steven Davies pulled one back for United.

Beckford opened the scoring late in the first half, before a penalty from Joe Garner doubled Preston's lead on the day.

They won the two-legged 1987 Third Division play-off final against Gillingham, although it required a replay at a neutral venue after the first two matches ended in an aggregate draw.

[15] In the 1993 First Division play-off final, Swindon did secure promotion to the top tier of English football with a 4–3 victory over Leicester City.

[16] In the two league matches played between the clubs during the regular season, Swindon won 1–0 at home in November 2014 but lost 3–0 at Preston the following April.

[17] Preston's Garner was the league's highest scorer with 25 goals before the play-offs, while Andy Williams was Swindon's top marksman with 21.

[20] The referee for the match was Andrew Madley, representing the West Yorkshire Association Football League, with assistants Dan Cook and Wade Norcott, and Mark Haywood acting as the fourth official.

Thompson was injured during the goal and was stretchered off the pitch, forcing Swindon to make an early substitution, with Ricketts coming on to replace him.

In the 23rd minute, Swindon defender Jack Stephens set off on a run, beat the Preston midfielder John Welsh with a step over, but his shot was deflected.

With two minutes of the half remaining, Swindon's Smith came close to halving the deficit but his header from Byrne's cross went wide from 2 yards (1.8 m).

After a Cruyff Turn, he curled a left-footed shot into the far corner to make it 3–0 to Preston at half time, despite Swindon having almost two-thirds of the possession.

A minute later Toffolo was substituted off for Swindon's top scorer Williams, before Preston made their second change of the game, with Kevin Davies on for Beckford.

[10][18][24] Simon Grayson, the Preson manager, commented: "We had two weeks to prepare for this match and it's full credit to the players that they turned up on the day and executed the gameplan to a tee.

[24] After being released by Bolton Wanderers, Beckford signed a permanent two-year contract with Preston North End effective from 1 July 2015.