Play Off Final

Zamora scoring the only goal to help Hammers back into topflight

West Ham 1-0 Preston More match photos West Ham reaction Preston reaction Bobby Zamora's second-half goal gave West Ham victory in the Championship play-off final and a return to the Premiership after a two-year absence. Tomas Repka hit the post and Carlo Nash denied Matthew Etherington as the Hammers started brightly in Cardiff. Shaun Newton headed Richard Cresswell's effort off the line, while Zamora and Marlon Harewood went desperately close. Zamora converted Etherington's cross and his team survived late pressure and keeper Jimmy Walker's injury to win. It was a victory they just about deserved after playing the more fluent football and carving out the better openings. Preston had done the double over the Hammers in the regular season, and finished above them in the table, but it was the Londoners who found their best form going into the play-offs. They dominated possession in the early stages at the Millennium Stadium and played the ball around with pace and precision. We may well go straight back down next season, but we'll have fun in the meantime

Play off final