Barnsley secure their Second Division status…just!

A dramatic afternoon at Oakwell saw Barnsley finally clinch the three points that keeps them in Division two. On a day when both Chesterfield and Cheltenham picked up victories, the Reds had to beat Brentford to avoid the daunting prospect of needing a result from next week’s game at League Champions Wigan.

Despite the fact that Barnsley owner Peter Doyle had emphasised the importance of the Brentford fixture - "This weekend's match is as big a game ever seen at Oakwell” – there was little sense of occasion as the game kicked off. Both sides struggled to find any fluency in a scrappy opening, but Betsy’s burst through the middle in the eighth minute brought the crowd to life. The striker gave the fans a taste of things to come, however, by putting his shot wide.

The remainder of the half saw the Reds lay siege to the Brentford goal without reward, thanks largely to some comedy finishing by Sheron and Betsy. Bees defender Sonko cleared off the line after Betsy had stabbed a shot goalward, and Sheron then wastefully lashed the ball high over the bar from ten yards. Perhaps sensing that the strikers were having an off day, the Reds midfield pushed forward: Jones went close with a twenty-five yard screamer that flew past the far post, and then forced a rare safe from Brentford keeper Julian with a scrambled effort from the edge of the box. In between time, Brentford’s Mark Peters shot straight at Matthew Ghent with what turned out to be the Bees’ only effort on target in the entire game.

The second half continued in much the same vein. With the Brentford players seemingly concentrating on their summer break the match was there for the taking, but Barnsley just couldn’t convert any of the numerous chances that came their way. Mike Sheron, making perhaps his last appearance at Oakwell, made way for Rory Fallon on the hour, and the latter had a glorious chance almost immediately. Typically, however, Fallon somehow failed to connect with Gorre’s cross which rolled untouched along the six yard box.

As we approached the final few minutes, news filtered through that Chesterfield had taken the lead against Bristol City, putting even more pressure on a Barnsley side that seemed destined not to break the deadlock. In a last throw of the dice, Hodges brought on Isaiah Rankin, and the Reds were then given a boost when the referee’s assistant indicated that an inexplicable FIVE minutes of injury time would be played. In the ninety fourth minute, the breakthrough finally came: Chris Morgan’s long ball fell kindly for Rankin on the edge of the penalty area, and his low drive flashed past Julian, prompting wild celebrations from the Oakwell faithful.

It’s quite ironic that a player who has contributed so little to the club over the last three years should be the one to score such a vital goal. Rankin is out of contract in the summer, and looks likely to move on, but his fourth goal in three seasons could yet turn out to be priceless.

Having secured their Second Division status, Barnsley can now look to next season with cautious optimism. The “substantial “ sponsorship deal with Vodka Kick and the promised £10million investment indicate that the Reds will have funds to strengthen the squad after this summer's inevitable, and much-needed, clear out.

The size of this task should not be underestimated – there are an awful lot of overpaid and underperforming players at this football club – but the fact that we can rebuild in Division two, and not Division three, is a massive boost.