Barnsley's ambition demolished

BY PHIL ANDREWS

Barnsley 1

Oldham 1

The South Stand at Oakwell is just a pile of rubble these days. Barnsley attacked the goal in front of it with the determination of the bulldozers that demolished it but their failure to turn their pressure into goals left their hopes of a place in the First Division play-offs in similar ruins.

Turning often impressive approach work into goals has been Barnsley's problem all season. Danny Wilson has built a side whose attractive push- and-run style is fancier than they are used to in this part of South Yorkshire, but too much of it comes to naught.

That is why Barnsley needed not only three points but a big score to boot to push Tranmere or Wolves out of the play-off frame. And they began as though they intended to get it.

Paul Gerrard in the Oldham goal denied Neil Redfearn and Andy Payton before the Barnsley captain, Gerry Taggart, back in the side after injury, rose to head home Redfearn's cross on 18 minutes.

Oldham's ambitions had been limited to containment and had Payton put away two more clear chances, Barnsley could have gone into their last match at Southend on Sunday with a realistic hope of a play-off place.

But an error by the full-back Gary Fleming just before half-time gave Oldham a point they scarcely deserved. His weak back-header failed to reach David Watson and John Eyre rounded the goalkeeper to tap into an empty net.

Oldham's well organised defence then frustrated almost constant Barnsley pressure and Fleming redeemed himself with a saving tackle when Eyre broke away and threatened to steal a second.

In the dying seconds Brendan O'Connell's appeals for a penalty were waved away and with them, almost certainly, Barnsley's promotion chances.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Watson; Taggart, Fleming (Jackson, 74), Davis; Sheridan, Redfearn, O'Connell, Eaden; Liddell (Hurst, 85), Payton, Bullock. Substitute not used: Butler (gk)

Oldham (4-4-2): Gerrard; McNiven, Graham, Redmond, Malkin; Rickers, Bernard, Richardson, Brennan; McCarthy, Eyres (Beresford, 87). Substitutes not used: Holden, Hallworth (gk).

Referee: W Burns (Scarborough).