By ROSS HEPPENSTALL at Oakwell
CARLTON MORRIS spared Barnsley major embarrassment with a dramatic late double to break brave Barrow’s hearts – and leave Mark Cooper fuming.
The striker came on in the second half and scored two minutes from the end of normal time then hit an extra-time winner.
Barnsley were 2-0 up at half-time and cruising following the 38th-minute dismissal of Barrow’s Tom Beadling.
Yet Barrow summoned the magic of the FA Cup to level matters at 2-2 and equalise twice more after falling 3-2 and then 4-3 behind, ensuring the tie went to extra-time where Morris’ second proved decisive.
A devastated Cooper said: “It would have been one of the greatest cup upsets ever had we won – and we deserved to win.
“At 4-4, with five seconds to go, Liam Kitching nearly catches the ball in the penalty area with his right hand, it’s a clear penalty.
“But credit to my players – they were outstanding.”
This was Poya Asbaghi’s first victory since taking charge at Oakwell but he groaned: “I’m really disappointed with how we behaved after going 2-0 up. After they made it 2-2, our reaction was not acceptable and we looked like children.”
Barnsley captain Mads Andersen headed home in the 23rd minute, Jordan Williams (above) then made it 2-0 at the break, but captain Ollie Banks blasted in a free-kick before Anthony Glennon hit an equaliser.
Five minutes later Devante Cole curled in a 25-yard strike but James Jones made it 3-3 before Morris made it 4-3.
Josh Kay hit a long-range shot to make it 4-4 in the last minute before Morris finally won it in the 102nd minute.
BARNSLEY: Walton 6, Williams 6, Moon 6 (Hondermarck 65, 6), Andersen 6, Kitching 6, Palmer 6 (Ackroyd 105), Styles 6, Vita 6, Adeboyejo 5 (Morris 65, 7), Brittain 6, Cole 6.
Subs not used: Collins, Sraha, D Benson, Bremang.
BARROW: Farman 6, Jones 6, Platt 7, Brough 7, Hutton 7, Banks 8 (Arthur 87), Beadling 5, White 7 (Devitt 87), Driscoll-glennon 7 (Brown 105), Stevens 6 (James 58, 6), Sea 6 (Kay 32, 7).
Subs not used: Lillis, Taylor, Ellis, Ntlhe.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ollie Banks. Barrow skipper scored a screamer and led the fightback.
REFEREE: Ross Joyce 6.