Barnsley secured a place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs with a 1-1 draw against Northampton Town on Saturday.
Herbie Kane had given us a first half lead with a fine finish from 20-yards, but Louis Appere’s late leveller meant we had to settle for a point on a nervy afternoon at Oakwell.
Results elsewhere across the division ensured that the Reds sealed a top six finish and will now face Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals for the second successive season in order to book a trip to Wembley for the showpiece finale.
It was a tentative start as both sides looked to get to grips with one another, with neither team mustering any real attempt on goal in the opening stages.
The first effort of note fell to Barnsley, and it was expertly despatched by Kane as he swept into the bottom corner after being picked out by Adam Phillips’ neat pull back on the edge of the box.
That was just the settler that the Reds required, and we began to knock the ball around with confidence, although chances remained few and far between as Northampton continued to defend stubbornly.
The Cobblers threatened to level late in the half as an influx of corners rained down on our area, with Devante Cole in the right place at the right time to block a goal-bound strike on the line.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Northampton Town
We had a glorious opportunity to double our advantage just after the hour mark as Kane capitalised on a stray ball in the visiting area and found John McAtee in acres of space, but his tame effort was hooked off the line when it appeared easier to score.
Chances remained at a premium in a tense second half as the Reds looked to consolidate and hold onto three precious points that would guarantee a play-off spot.
Northampton pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, with Appere flashing a header narrowly wide of the target.
The Cobblers’ striker would not be denied in stoppage time, however, as he applied the finishing touch to a well-worked set-piece routine with virtually the last kick of the contest.
But with both Blackpool and Lincoln City suffering defeats against Reading and Portsmouth, respectively, the Reds claimed sixth position to ensure we’d be competing for a place in the Championship next season.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-1 Northampton Town
REDS XI: Roberts (GK), O’Keeffe, Williams (C), de Gevigney, Earl, Cadden, Connell, Phillips, Kane, McAtee (Jalo, 72), Cole (Cosgrove, 82).
Not used: Killip (GK), Cotter, McCart, Grant, Marsh.
NORTHAMPTON XI: Burge (GK), Sowerby (Hondermarck, 74), Guthrie (C), Sherring, Appere, Pinnock, Monthe (McWilliams, 74), Willis, Bowie (Simpson, 55), Leonard, Odimayo (McGowan, 61).
Not used: Dadge (GK), Fox, Springett.
