At half-time, it looked like a rerun of Barnsley’s previous Wembley woes, with that 2008 FA Cup semi-final loss to Cardiff and the 2000 Championship play-off defeat to Ipswich Town springing to seasoned supporters’ minds – with none even alive when the Reds won their only previous cup silverware in their sole FA Cup triumph in 1912. The new-look Barnsley had other ideas in front of rows of flat-capped fans who were no doubt throwing their headwear up in ecstasy at the end. Just after the interval, the mood was not as exuberant with a cursory early second-half chant of “Come on you Reds’ somewhat lacking conviction. But the plea was heard somewhere, although a bit of friendship from Oxford’s Cheyenne Dunkley did not half help. Childhood mates with Barnsley top-scorer Sam Winnall in their formative years in Wolverhampton, Dunkley did a good turn when diverting home a cross under pressure from his pal as the Reds belatedly found their mojo on 52 minutes to level. It was left to Ashley Fletcher to well and truly start the party 16 minutes later and how the young, raw striker, hitherto anonymous, celebrated with unashamed abandon. Finally we had a cup final and how those with red in their blood, those from Royston to Ryhill and South Hiendley to Staincross, soon drank a toast to a vintage Hammill strike. Still there was time to sweat, thanks to Danny Hylton’s strike before Barnsley finally breathed again. Anyone for an encore in late May? Stranger things have happened. Read more: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spor...e-of-barnsley-revival-1-7831492#ixzz44sxYuajl
