Barnsley paint Wembley red
The way Barnsley turned their season around was reflected in this Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final — and Manchester United even had a hand in the Tykes securing their silverware.
Ashley Fletcher, on loan from Old Trafford, wants to follow in Marcus Rashford’s footsteps and was among the goalscorers as Barnsley came from behind to beat Oxford United.
The 20-year- old striker gave the Yorkshire team a 2-1 lead against their opponents from League Two, and it was fitting that it took a turnaround for Barnsley to win their first cup final since 1912.
Before December, they had lost eight straight League One games and were humiliated in the FA Cup when beaten by non-League Altrincham.
Manager Lee Johnson left for Bristol City in February, too, but under caretaker Paul heckingbottom — born and bred in Barnsley — they have not looked back.
At Wembley they showed the spirit that has seen them go from 23rd in League One to pushing for a place in the play-offs.
heckingbottom said: ‘It’s been a strange season after the run of defeats and turning a corner. For the last 11 or 12 games, we’ve been taking over two points a game, which is championshipwinning form.’
The loudest roar was reserved for heckingbottom when he lifted the trophy. Asked if he will get the job full time, he said: ‘It’s not for me to decide. The club know I will give everything regardless and I think the fans know too.
‘There was a point in the second half where I could have easily jumped in with the fans and watched the game with them because that’s what it means.’
Try telling the 59,000 here that the Premier League’s B teams should be allowed to play in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, as has been suggested recently. This was a tasty final between two lower-League teams, with tough tackling and dogged determination throughout.
Oxford — second in League Two — will go back to pushing for promotion but their manager, Michael Appleton, does not want them to have to return to Wembley to do it.
‘We’ve got six massive games coming up,’ Appleton said. ‘ hopefully, we can use this as some kind of motivation to make sure we don’t have to come back here in the play-offs.’
Oxford took the lead in the 29th minute when a cross by Alex MacDonald found Callum O’Dowda, who forced his way past Barnsley’s George Williams to head past Adam Davies.
Barnsley equalised after the break and were given a helping hand by Oxford. A cross by Adam hammill was meant for Sam Winnall but Chey Dunkley, desperate to get to the ball before the striker, headed into his own net.
Barnsley looked the likelier side to get the next goal and did so in the 68th minute through Fletcher (below). A shot by Ivan Toney was blocked by Johnny Mullins but the rebound fell to Fletcher, who buried it despite Benjamin Buchel getting a palm to it and MacDonald trying his best to block on the line.
Oxford almost equalised when Liam Sercombe aimed for the far corner but Davies got down to produce a save worthy of a final.
Then came the goal that looked to have killed off Oxford in the 74th minute. hammill, toying with Sercombe after several step- overs, found the far corner to make it 3-1.
Oxford made it a grandstand finish when Kemar Roofe crossed for Danny hylton, whose header perfectly picked out the top corner, but Barnsley
held on.