Christian Dailly fired West Ham to within 90 minutes of an instant return to the Barclaycard Premiership with the clinching goal against Ipswich Town at Upton Park.

The Hammers defender was the unlikely hero after Matthew Etherington had wiped out Ipswich's slender one-goal lead from the first leg of their Nationwide Division One play-off semi-final with a stunning strike.

Darren Bent had given the Tractor Boys the advantage at Portman Road, but his side could not hold on as West Ham laid siege to their goal on a wild night in east London.

Visiting goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was inspired to deny Bobby Zamora and Dailly in the first half, while Steve Lomas hit the crossbar, but he could do nothing to stop a second-half onslaught which took the Hammers to the Millennium Stadium.

Ipswich almost forced extra-time when Ian Westlake struck the woodwork in stoppage time, but it was the home side who progressed to the play-off final, where they will face London rivals Crystal Palace.

The Hammers warmed the crowd up by staging an old-fashioned cockney knees-up prior to kick-off, culminating with a clarion call from a horn player reminiscent of the Leyton Silver Band which used to play before matches in the 1960s and '70s.

But it was Ipswich who almost scored within the first three minutes, Bent latching on to a lofted through ball from Jim Magilton only to drag his shot just wide of the far post.

The Hammers quickly struck back through Lomas, who met Etherington's sixth-minute cross first time and struck a sweet volley off the crossbar.

Davis then pulled off a stunning point-blank save to deny Zamora, whose header from David Connolly's cut-back was goal-bound.

Dailly drew another fine diving save from Davis with a rasping shot from 25 yards out which was always curling away from the Ipswich 'keeper.

The visitors were struggling to stem the tide, with Zamora heading inches wide from Etherington's cross.

Town defender Fabian Wilnis resorted to hand ball as his side clung on, and was booked for his trouble by referee Neale Barry, but Michael Carrick wasted the resulting free-kick.

Bent put a half-chance over the crossbar at full-stretch after a Magilton free-kick at the other end just before the break, but the home side were making all the running.

For all West Ham's dominance they had failed to make the breakthrough, but Ipswich were worried enough to bring on Alun Armstrong for Shefki Kuqi after the restart.

Marlon Harewood cut in to fire a shot goalwards which Davis collected easily, but the 34,002 crowd raised the roof when Etherington broke the deadlock with a magical effort.

The former Tottenham winger collected a short corner from Carrick before advancing to blast a left-foot shot into the top corner from just inside the 18-yard box.

Etherington's sixth goal of the season levelled the aggregate score in the tie and gave the Hammers the momentum.

But they were statuesque when Westlake was given time and space to flash a cross right across the face of the home goal shortly afterwards.

On came experienced striker Brian Deane for the fading Zamora, but his acrobatic flick was wasted by Connolly, who mis-hit his shot high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

Harewood put Connolly clean through again after a storming run but the Republic of Ireland striker's deft chip was just too high.

The Hammers finally went ahead for the first time in the tie when Dailly struck home at a Carrick corner with 20 minutes to go.

Carrick's centre hit Richard Naylor before falling to Dailly, who hurt his right knee before firing in a shot left-footed off Tommy Miller into the bottom corner.

Ipswich threw on play-off veteran Martijn Reuser, but their fightback lacked belief until added time, when Westlake struck a stinging effort from 25 yards off the angle of post and crossbar.

Teams:

West Ham (0) 2 Ipswich (0) 0

West Ham Bywater, Repka, Melville, Dailly, Mullins, Harewood, Carrick, Lomas, Etherington, Connolly (Reo-Coker 82), Zamora (Deane 57).

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Brevett, McAnuff.

Goals: Etherington 50, Dailly 71.

Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, Elliott, Naylor, Richards, Wright, Magilton (Reuser 72), Miller, Westlake, Darren Bent, Kuqi (Armstrong 45).

Subs Not Used: Price, Diallo, Santos.

Booked: Wilnis. Agg (2-1)

Att: 34,002

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).