Barnsley edged a tight League One play-off semi-final second leg against Bolton to set up an all-South Yorkshire final against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.
With the scores level at 1-1 from the first leg on Saturday, Liam Kitching’s towering back-post header from Luca Connell’s arcing cross was the difference.
Bolton enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but struggled to put the home goal under any real pressure.
The Tykes will now face their local rivals on Monday, 29 May as they look to secure an immediate return to the Championship.
Unlike Thursday’s wild second leg at Hillsborough, that saw Wednesday produce a stunning comeback to eventually beat Peterborough 5-3 on penalties, this was a game high in intensity but low on serious chances.
Bolton’s best opportunity to level came when Aaron Morley crashed a fierce strike over the bar after an indirect free-kick was rolled to him inside the area.
Ian Evatt’s men will now face a third successive season in the third tier.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Barnsley
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Isted
- 12Thomas
- 6Andersen
- 5Kitching
- 2Williams
- 30PhillipsSubstituted forBensonat 85′minutes
- 48ConnellSubstituted forRussellat 84′minutes
- 8Kane
- 7Cadden
- 31TedicSubstituted forNorwoodat 65′minutes
- 44ColeBooked at 57minsSubstituted forThomasat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Russell
- 9Norwood
- 10Benson
- 16Thomas
- 17Cotter
- 40Collins
- 47Watters
Bolton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 19Trafford
- 18Toal
- 5Almeida SantosBooked at 81mins
- 6Johnston
- 21Bradley
- 25ThomasonSubstituted forKachungaat 67′minutes
- 16MorleySubstituted forJeromeat 85′minutes
- 27WilliamsSubstituted forJohnat 73′minutes
- 22DempseyBooked at 42minsSubstituted forSheehanat 73′minutes
- 11N’LunduluSubstituted forAdeboyejoat 67′minutes
- 10Charles
Substitutes
- 3John
- 4Williams
- 8Sheehan
- 12Dixon
- 24Kachunga
- 29Adeboyejo
- 35Jerome
- Referee:
- Michael Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 16,274
Live Text
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Match ends, Barnsley 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.
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Second Half ends, Barnsley 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Williams (Barnsley) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Foul by Conor Bradley (Bolton Wanderers).
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Luke Thomas (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Barnsley. Luke Thomas replaces Devante Cole.
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Offside, Bolton Wanderers. Josh Sheehan tries a through ball, but Declan John is caught offside.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Cameron Jerome replaces Aaron Morley.
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Substitution, Barnsley. Josh Benson replaces Adam Phillips.
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Substitution, Barnsley. Jonathan Russell replaces Luca Connell.
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Ricardo Santos (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Devante Cole (Barnsley).
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Offside, Barnsley. Nicky Cadden tries a through ball, but Liam Kitching is caught offside.
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Ricardo Santos (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ricardo Santos (Bolton Wanderers).
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James Norwood (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Elias Kachunga (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Adam Phillips (Barnsley).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Luca Connell (Barnsley).