Barnsley 1 Bolton 0 (2-1 agg): Kitching strikes winner to set up all-Yorkshire final against Sheffield Wednesday
BARNSLEY threw the Kitching sink to set up a South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-off final next weekend.
Liam Kitching rose highest to head home a 24th-minute winner at Oakwell to send Bolton’s promotion dreams down the plughole.
Michael Duff has done a fantastic job since taking the Barnsley job in the summer.
Not only has he managed to build a team that has rediscovered the knack of winning after relegation but rebuilt bridges between the club and fans.
And this was a trademark performance from a Duff team — well organised, lots of energy and hard work — while Ian Evatt’s Bolton were slow and ponderous.
They had a golden chance to take an early lead after Bolton lost possession in their own area but Slobodan Tedic was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Ricardo Santos.
But, down the other end, Dion Charles chested down a long Bolton ball before firing an effort from distance which Harry Isted kept out.
Devante Cole then smacked a low shot from the edge of the box that keeper James Trafford got down well to keep out.
In a breathless start, Herbie Kane drove forward before Kitching’s thumping effort was saved by Trafford.
Bolton were almost punished after being careless in possession. Kane overturned the ball and again produced a powerful run but his shot was kept out by Trafford.
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Barnsley moved in front with two pieces of quality – the cross and the header.
Luca Connell swung the ball in from the right and Kitching rose highest to bullet the ball past Trafford.
It was a piece of lousy defending from Bolton, who failed to get out of their box quick enough after they had defended an initial ball into the box and Kitching had so much time to set himself to meet the cross.
Bolton tried to probe for a leveller but were struggling to create anything meaningful.
And Trotters fans had hearts in mouths when after nice play from Kane and Connell, Kitching was through but his shot was saved by Trafford — although the assistant flagged offside.
Bolton did not do enough in the first half and needed to put more pressure on their hosts after the break.
They started dominating possession and seemed to have found an extra yard of pace.
Dion Charles charged into the Barnsley box and cut the ball back for Conor Bradley, who took a tumble under pressure from Mads Anderson — but ref Michael Salisbury waved away the protests.
Aaron Morley drove forward and fired a 30-yard effort high and wide and then George Thomason saw an effort charged down.
Barnsley had struggled to get out of their own half but Bolton were just lacking a cutting edge in the final third.
And the hosts almost punished them when Adam Phillips struck a cracking volley from 25 yards that crashed back off the bar.
But a moment of foolishness from Barnsley keeper Isted put his team under the cosh. He rashly handled the ball in his box after his team-mate Andersen attempted to play a pass to a team-mate.
An indirect free-kick was awarded but Morley smashed it over the bar.
Jordan Williams almost grabbed a second at the death but they did not need it. Barnsley are going to Wembley where they will face Sheffield Wednesday.