Nick Colgan, Bobby Hassell, Paul Reid, Antony Kay, Paul Heckingbottom, Paul Hayes, Stephen McPhail, Brian Howard, Martin Devaney, Marc Richards, Daniel Nardiello.
Those are the 11 heroes that Barnsley fans will be waking up thinking about this morning.
In what must be one of the greatest nights in Barnsley Football Club history, The Reds pulled back the 1-0 deficit from the first leg at Oakwell then, yet another calamity handed Huddersfield the advantage back, before Barnsley fought back again TWICE to book a spot in Cardiff along with Swansea City.
Andy Ritchie must be applauded for finally making the bold decision of dropping the out-of-form Chris Shuker and drafting Paul Hayes onto the left side of midfield with arguably Barnsley's best player last Thursday, Martin Devaney switching to the right.
The kick-off was delayed 15 minutes until 8pm as traffic congestion meant the Barnsley team bus didn't arrive at the Galpharm Stadium until around 7.10pm.
But really the first half might as well have never started as in pouring rain neither team got going.
Devaney forced one good block from Town keeper Paul Rachubka and when Huddersfield broke, Colgan was out quick to block an effort from Jon Worthington.
Second half though was a different story.
13 minutes in and Barnsley got the goal they needed to level the tie.
Howard (who had a really quiet first half) lofted a ball to the edge of the area where Danny Schofield (Town's best player at Oakwell) pushed Hayes in the back. Referee Chris Foy pointed straight to the spot.
Technically it was a foul but a lot of referees would have waved the appeals away. Thankfully for Barnsley, Foy didn't and after not looking like getting a sniff of a goal for 58 minutes this was THE chance to level the tie.
Hayes insisted he would take the penalty and with all the confidence in the world strolled up before sending Rachubka the wrong way.
GAME ON!
That was until the 65th minute when just like at Oakwell Barnsley shot themselves severely in the foot.
The usually calm and composed Steve McPhail dillid and dallied until playing a woeful backpass to Colgan, the Irish keeper's clearance was charged down by Worthington and despite Heckingbottom's best efforts, he could only help it into the net.
Disaster and most of the 4,000 travelling army probably believed that was it as apart from the penalty NOTHING had been created.
BUT…..
Write off this Barnsley side at your peril. Amazingly just 6 minutes after handing Huddersfield the tie again, Barnsley levelled it back up.
Devaney finally delivered a decent corner, the excellent Bobby Hassell got above Andy Booth to nod down and there was Paul Reid of all people, totally unmarked and he nodded it past Rachubka.
GAME ON AGAIN! Now if only The Reds didn't hand Town a hat trick extra-time was looming.
We didn't want that though did we?!?
Within 7 minutes of Reid levelling the tie up, guess who popped up to win it!
Just like at Walsall when Barnsley clinched this tie, Danny Nardiello was poor, anonymous and unaware of what was happening around him UNTIL he decided to become a hero.
Hayes back-heeled the ball to Howard who surged forward before unleashing a thunderbolt that Rachubka could only beat out and there was Nardiello to power it home. Simply incredible as jubilation and euphoria swept through the away end.
And to sum it up in the dying moments the man that has broken Barnsley hearts THREE times this season, Gary Taylor-Fletcher shot tamely at Colgan from 6 yards.
So after 48 games there is a trip to Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium to savour.
The Reds were involved in the last ever Play-Off Final at the old Wembley 6 years ago, getting to the grand old stadium for the first time in their history.
Now we will get to sample the Millennium Stadium as well….
COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Player-Ratings:
Nick Colgan: Made one good block from Worthington in the first half and could do nothing about Huddersfield's goal. Would have kept 2 clean sheets if it weren't for his teammates. 7
Paul Heckingbottom: Improvement from Thursday and even got forward. 7
Paul Reid: Rock at the back and then popped up with the crucial second leveller. True captain's display. 9
Antony Kay: Another rock at the back, left Booth frustrated and for a local lad he will have a day to remember on May 27th. 8
Bobby Hassell: Great header to set up Reid's goal and once again he just wouldn't be beaten. 8
Paul Hayes: Fully justified his selection on the left. Won and converted the crucial penalty. 8
Brian Howard: Quiet first half but livened up in the second half and his blockbuster enabled Nardiello to send Barnsley to Cardiff. 7
Stephen McPhail: Awful and uncharacteristic mistake looked to have put Huddersfield in the Final until Reid and Nardiello baled him out. Solid otherwise. 7
Martin Devaney. Shackled by Danny Adams most of the game and it was obvious that after the first leg Huddersfield had pinpointed him as the danger-man. 6
Marc Richards: Will give him his due again as he kept the Town defenders busy in the second period. Looks like he performs for the cameras. Subbed. 7
Daniel Nardiello: Proved why he is the cult hero. Does nothing for 99% of the game and then smacks home the winner. That's why we love him! Booked. Subbed. 7
Substitutes:
Tommy Wright (for Richards 86) Replaced the tiring Richards and just kept the Town defence on their toes. 6
Chris Shuker (for Nardiello 90) Will have been bitterly disappointed to be dropped but it was the right decision. Really sweating on his Final place now. 6
Barnsley Boy's Man of the Match: Would be extremely hard to pick out one man so they can all share it!
Huddersfield's Star Man: Danny Adams: Kept Devaney in his pocket for 90 minutes.
Next Up:
Coca Cola League One Play-Off Final Millenium Stadium, Cardiff Barnsley v Swansea City Saturday 27th May 2006 Kick-Off 3pm
Tickets:
Follow link http://www.barnsley-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=282956
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