Barnsley vs Millwall. Sky Bet League One.
Wembley.
Monday 30 May 2016 07:27, UK
Barnsley won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship after beating Millwall 3-1 in the League One play-off final at Wembley.
Goals from Manchester United loanee Ashley Fletcher plus Adam Hammill and Lloyd Isgrove saw off the Lions, who had halved an early deficit through boyhood Barnsley fan Mark Beevers.
It caps a remarkable 2016 for Paul Heckingbottom's men, who were bottom of League One on December 11 but went onto win the Johnstone's Paint Trophy before securing their place in the play-offs by finishing sixth.
Millwall's preparations suffered big disruption in the warm-up with Byron Webster breaking down injured, which meant the Lions' back four had to be reshuffled with Tony Craig drafted in as a centre-back.
It took time for Millwall to adapt to their new-look defence and Barnsley took full advantage inside two minutes.
Sam Winnall flicked the ball into the path of Fletcher, who took the ball in behind Craig and fired into the bottom corner.
Millwall looked shell-shocked in the Wembley sunshine while the Tykes kept on probing.
Alfie Mawson hooked a ball over the top for Fletcher on 10 minutes but Jordan Archer was quick off his line to block the ball away with his legs.
However, Barnsley only had to wait nine more minutes to double their lead.
Mo Diame scored a stunning goal for Hull City in the Championship play-off final and Hammill must have been watching as he recreated the effort 24 hours on.
There didn't seem much on when he picked the ball up around 30 yards out but he let loose with a curling effort that flew past Archer's grasp and into the top corner.
Some Millwall fans might have headed to the bar early but their side slowly grew into the game.
Shane Ferguson epitomised his team's belated belief, winning and taking a corner on 34 minutes that caused bedlam in the Barnsley area.
Craig and Lee Gregory both wanted the ball more than their markers and it subsequently dropped to Beevers, who held off his man and hammered home from close range.
Barnsley regained their composure after the break with Hammill providing a dangerous outlet on the left. However, Gregory nearly latched onto a loose ball for the Lions in the six-yard box on 58 minutes, only for the Tykes to scramble away.
Millwall were struggling to cope with the silky Hammill, who beat his man and tested Archer with an effort from the edge of the box on 61 minutes.
Lions substitute Aiden O'Brien nearly levelled on 67 minutes but his shot from 15 yards after Morison had sprung the offside trap was straight at the goalkeeper.
That would end up being a key moment as Barnsley scored again on 74 minutes to seal their promotion.
Conor Hourihane whipped in a corner from the right and somehow Isgrove - the smallest man on the pitch - rose highest to flick a header into the net past a flapping Archer.
Millwall pushed relentlessly for a way back into the game in the closing stages with Chris Taylor forcing a fine save from Adam Davies, but Barnsley kept control of the ball very cleverly as the clock ticked down.
Millwall have now lost four of their five visits to Wembley and manager Neil Harris will have to galvanise his young side next season for another crack at promotion.
Meanwhile, Barnsley can look forward to trips to places like Newcastle United and Aston Villa in what is shaping up to be a fascinating Championship season.
