Joe Ledley rated his match-winning strike against Barnsley the best of his career as Cardiff reached an FA Cup final for the first time in 81 years.

It was a goal worthy of the Wembley stage as the Wales winger steered home a perfectly-timed volley after just nine minutes to earn a 1-0 victory and a date with Portsmouth on May 17.

Tykes goalkeeper Luke Steele may have performed heroics in denying Liverpool and Chelsea in the previous two rounds, but there was nothing he could do to stop this one.

The strike capped a man-of-the-match performance from the 21-year-old, who will be sure to have caught the eye of Premier League scouts in attendance.

Ledley was "over to moon" to have chosen the biggest game of his career to deliver such a goal.

"That's definitely by far the best I've scored in my career, and it was in the semi-finals of the FA Cup," he said.

"I was a bit shocked. It was quite a difficult strike to hit, but I'm just delighted it went in.

"I was over the moon. It was a good finish as well. I'm proud I've scored at Wembley, and it was a great feeling for me.

"I didn't think I'd ever score a goal like that. But it did happen, and I'm buzzing like all the other players.

"Everyone would love to score a goal at Wembley. Luckily it happened to me, and I'm grateful for that."

Unfortunately for Barnsley striker Kayode Odejayi, their hero in the quarter-final humbling of Chelsea, it did not happen for him - although the Nigerian is still likely to be asking himself quite how.

He was sent clean through after 66 minutes and had all the time in the world to pick his spot, with just Bluebirds goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to beat.

However, somehow he failed to even hit the target - dragging his shot wide of the right post.

It proved to be a defining moment in the match, because the Tykes never recovered.

Ledley admitted the achievement is yet to fully sink in but insists his team were good value for their victory.

"It's shocking that we are in the final," he said.

"We deserved it, though - especially in the second half, I thought we played much better.

"The atmosphere was brilliant in the dressing room afterwards."

As for next month's final back at the national stadium, Ledley sees no reason why there cannot be one last twist in a competition that has been saturated with surprises this season.

"We are the underdogs; they are a Premier League side - but we just need to keep doing what we're doing," he added.

"I just want to put in another good performance like this, and anything can happen."

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