Barnsley again nearly squandered a 3 goal lead at Oakwell but managed thanks to a farce penalty decision by referee Trevor Kettle to fight out their 5th victory in 9. Once again the Reds dominated a first half and went in at the break 3-0 up thanks to goals from Michael Chopra Bobby Hassell/Michael Chopra and a superb strike from Michael Boulding as Huddersfield failed to even get started.
The Reds took the lead in the tenth minute when McPhail who finally showed the commitment and passion needed to survive in this division floated over a delicate cross for Chopra to beat keeper Paul Rachubka to the ball and head home his 9th goal of the season. It was little more than they deserved. One then became two after 24 minutes when Bobby Hassell floated over a ball that seemed to get the faintest touch from Chopra on its way into the bottom corner. The Barnsley players mobbed Hassell while the announcer credited it to Chopra.
Chopra should have got an undisputed goal just four minutes later as he raced onto a superb ball from Shuker but Rachubka managed to palm away what was a really tame effort.
The Reds would not be denied a third though and it duly came after 39 minutes as Boulding danced through the Huddersfield defence before smashing a brilliant drive past Rachubka to see the Reds 3-0 up at the break.
Game Over???
Not when your talking about Barnsley who had let a 3 goal lead slip to Stockport and a 2 goal lead slip to Chesterfield in the last 3 weeks. The inevitable Huddersfield comeback started just five minutes into the second half as Ross Turnbull sent Luke Beckett tumbling in the area to earn Huddersfield a penalty and send Turnbull for a early bath. Nick Colgan came on in place of Chris Shuker and duly saved Pawel Abbott's penalty but for the second time this season the Irish number 3 was adjudged to have moved off his line and Abbott duly dispatched at the second attempt.
As in previous games Barnsley seemed to wilt Colgan made a superb point blank save from Beckett before the Terriers notched their second thanks to two blunders from referee Kettle.
He first awarded Huddersfield a free-kick for a non existent foul then proceeded to let Huddersfield take the freekick from about 15 yards nearer to the goal from where the alleged offence was committed. Tony Carss whipped in the freekick and Andy Booth saw his header hacked off the line. The ball though eventually found its way back to Booth and he looped a header beyond the outstretched arms of Colgan. 3-2 game on stockport memories flooded the mind of Barnsley fans.
Their worst fears were nearly confirmed after 76 minutes as Abbott planted a header onto the crossbar and Oakwell breathed again.
Barnsley though sealed the win with 4 minutes remaining thanks to the most baffling referring decision i think iv personally ever seen. Huddersfield keeper Rachubka collected the ball and was challenged by Chopra as they both seem to barge into each other as Rachubka had the ball in his hands. Amazingly though Ref Kettle pointed to the spot and showed Rachubka a yellow card. Chopra duly stepped up to dispatch the penalty and claim (depending on who the second goal is awarded to) his second Reds Hat-trick. This sparked a pitch invasion from the Ponty End with one fan who refused to leave the field been rugby tackled by the Terriers Efe Sodje.
The 4th goal killed the game and the Reds survived the remaining 9 minutes ( including 5 mins of injury time) to claim their first victory since the 4 goal haul against Peterborough.
The victory extends the Reds unbeaten run to 9 games and leaves them 7 points off the play-offs with a game in hand. Just one lesson to learn though for Harts side a match lasts 90 minutes not just 45.