WE DID IT! Somehow we did it! For 120 minutes The Reds were battered by Swansea City but after taking the lead through Paul Hayes and then being 2-1 down at half-time after an incredible overhead kick from ex red Rory Fallon and a howler from Nick Colgan, Barnsley fought back to 2-2 after a superb free-kick from Daniel Nardiello and then won a frantic penalty shoot out to end the 4 year exile from English Footballs second tier and return to what really is Barnsley's home.
Forget beating Bradford in 1997 and Wembley in 2000 this was the most nerve-shredding promotion decider Barnsley has ever participated in.
From my personal experience I had never before witnessed Barnsley in a penalty shootout at first hand.
I am extremely grateful!
The first half was just as nervy as the rest of the game but yielded 3 of the 4 goals.
Danny Wilson oops sorry I mean Andy Ritchie rightly kept faith with the same side that had blown away Huddersfield in that semi-final second leg 12 days previous. This meant Final heartbreak for Chris Shuker.
Swansea included THREE Ex Tykes in their starting line-up, captain Garry Monk, Kevin Austin and Rory Fallon whilst another, Tom Williams was on the bench.
And it was Swansea who were much the brighter side with Fallon and the extremely pacey Leon Knight keeping Paul Reid and Antony Kay extremely busy.
Brian Howard did so very nearly put Barnsley in front though 10 minutes in when he picked up a loose ball and just like for the decisive 3rd goal at the Galpharm surged forward.
Swans keeper Willy Gueret was out of position but when Howard let rip he produced a superb full length save to just turn the ball around the post.
The 20,000 massed in the Millennium Stadium were cheering though 9 minutes when later when just like at Wembley 6 years ago The Reds struck first in the play-off final.
Marc Richards sent a great cross field ball to Martin Devaney on the right. And he produced an excellent cross which ex red Austin could only head backwards and Paul Hayes connected beautifully to send the ball through Monk's legs and crashing inside Guerets near post.
Advantage Barnsley! But just like 6 years ago it didn't last and constant Swansea pressure was rewarded with 2 goals in 12 minutes, one unstoppable the other well lets be kind and say stoppable!
Rory Fallon was having by far his best game against his former club that he's had since leaving in 2003 and he grabbed Swansea's equaliser on 28minutes with a goal of real quality.
Wales star Sam Ricketts dinked a lovely free kick into the area and when it was flicked on, Fallon produced a spectacular overhead kick into the far corner.
5 minutes before half-time Swansea took the lead.
Andy Robinson who left Paul Heckingbottom with the proverbial twisted blood all game let fly with a relatively tame shot from 25 yards that looked to sailing comfortably into Colgan's hands.
But and whether it was because of a divot on what was a poor pitch in a fantastic stadium or not Colgan spilled the ball and it crawled over the line
This coming after the semi-final calamities from Heckingbottom and McPhail meant that out of 4 goals conceded in the play-offs 3 were our own mistakes.
Colgan then somehow kept a shot out on the line with his backside from Robinson and Barnsley hearts started to sink.
Half-time and Swansea were just 45 minutes from being back in the Championship after 22 years.
The second half though seemed to defy belief.
Once again Swansea kept Barnsley on the racks, spurning chance after chance whilst The Reds were struggling to even string passes together
Yet a 3rd moment of Nardiello magic in 4 games drew Barnsley level.
62 minutes had passed when Monk hauled down Howard.
The last thing Ill remember about that goal was me shouting "Nardiello be a hero" as he stepped up.
He duly obliged smacking it past the wall and into the far corner.
Game On and although Swansea were by far the superior side the scoreline was all that mattered and as it stood Barnsley now had just a good a chance of Championship football as their Welsh counterparts.
The hope was that Barnsley would react the same way as Swansea did to going behind and storm back to regain the lead it didn't happen though and when Knight departed for Lee Trundle trouble looked on the horizon. The fact that Richards was replaced by Tommy Wright made the scenario look all the more ironic.
Trundle set about tearing apart the usually solid Barnsley rearguard but he couldn't find a way through in normal time.
30 minutes lay ahead and a Trundle inspired Swansea continued to dominate. Nardiello was replaced by Shuker 6 minutes in and Shuker was Barnsley's one ray of light as he looked his old self again. Wright was left isolated though and Trundle forced Colgan into an excellent parry in the first half.
After 111minutes it looked like Trundle had won the match as he mazy run sent him past 3 Barnsley defenders and with a gaping corner to aim at he slipped and the ball flew wide.
That was the moment. The moment went Barnsley fans started to believe and Swansea's fans started to feel it wasn't going to be their day.
It all came down to the £1m Championship penalty shootout.
Barnsley had tasted shootout glory against Preston in the Carling Cup back in August when they scored 5 out of 5 to win 5-4.
Lee Trundle, Paul Hayes, Leon Britton and Chris Shuker all coolly dispatched to leave the standings at 2-2
Next up was Swansea's Adebayo Akinfenwa. He stepped up he stopped he placed the ball OVER the bar.
This was it!
The two Barnsley born stars were next Paul Heckingbottom coolly dispatched but so did Owain Tudor-Jones.
Then came Antony Kay. An absolute rock at the heart of Barnsley's defence this season and he didn't miss.
The pressure was all on Alan Tate, a former Manchester United youth star. If he missed Barnsley were heading to Elland Road, ST Andrews Stadium and Ricoh Arena next season.
55,419 people in the stands and countless people in Yorkshire and Wales held their breath.
Up he stepped, shot to the left and their was the hand of Nicholas Colgan to palm it away.
There is was after 46 games, 4140 minutes and 9 months, the one moment where Barnsley Football Club claimed their place back in the second tier of English Football. A tier they truly call home after holding the record for number of years in that division.
After the painful 6 years since the Wembley defeat The Reds are back on the up!
Iv asked the question Is this really going to be our year in a few of my match reports this season and now the answer is YES!
Andy Ritchie and Rick Holden have bypassed even the most absurd expectations this season because promotion WAS NOT on the agenda.
Promotion seemed so far away when last season Paul Hart's expensively assembled squad limped to mid-table but with basically those same players plus shrewd acquisitions like Paul Hayes, Brian Howard and Martin Devaney Ritchie and Holden have transformed this side and the fruits of their labour came at the Millennium Stadium
Unfortunately though there is some sad news.
We wont get the chance to visit Doncaster Rovers' new stadium next season wont get stuffed by Dave Penney's boys twice! But you know what I think we'll live!
EIEIEIO UP THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE WE GO NOW WE'VE WON PROMOTION THIS IS WHAT WE SING WE ARE BARNSLEY WE ARE BARNSLEY RITCHIE IS OUR KING!!!
And Thank You to Andy Ritchie, Rick Holden, Tom Little and all the players and staff at Barnsley Football Club for bringing the good times back.
Player Ratings:
Nick Colgan: His error gifted Swansea the lead but he was the hero of the hour and after the season he's had I'm not going to begrudge him that one little mistake now! 7
Bobby Hassell: Delighted for him because his passion shines through. Was even struggling with a calf injury towards the end of the match but kept going. 8
Paul Reid: Lifted the trophy as skipper and worked tirelessly to keep the Swans strike force at bay. 7
Antony Kay: Worked just as hard as Reid and struck the winning penalty. Local Lad Day To Remember. 8
Paul Heckingbottom: Given a torrid time by Robinson but must be the lucky charm after winning in the play-offs last year with Sheffield Wednesday. Another local lad who struck a great penalty. 6
Martin Devaney: Another one of his anonymous showings but this was the culmination of a seasons work rather than a days and he's been superb since his arrival. 6
Brian Howard: Came so close in the first half and worked his socks off. Subbed. 7
Stephen McPhail: The pitch didn't suit his game but he still showed glimpses of his class. 7
Paul Hayes: Great first goal and cool penalty. Really showed his worth. 8
Marc Richards: Worked his socks off and his last 3 games have been worth mentioning. Subbed. 7
Daniel Nardiello: Did it again. Nothing until a great goal put Barnsley back in the tie. Cant help but love him can you!. Subbed. 7
Substitutes:
Tommy Wright (for Richards 70) Completely isolated and compared with Trundles entrance its embarrassing. 5
Dale Tonge (for Howard 73) Was booked and extremely lucky not to get a second yellow but did his best. 6
Chris Shuker (for Nardiello 96) His fresh legs were crucial to ease the pressure. Unlucky not to score after one mazy run. 7
Sponsors Man of the Match: Paul Reid.
Barnsley Boy's Man of the Match: Hard to choose after what's happened but Ill go for Paul Hayes… Just
And I shall leave you with these immortal words from Sky:
Alan Tate who should have scored a winner for Swansea at the end of the 90 has to score here,...has to score here, or Barnsley are up.
The biggest kick of his life.
Its Alan Tate ITS SAVED BARNSLEY ARE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!
WE ARE CHAMPIONSHIP SAY WE ARE CHAMPIONSHIP
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