Copy from
Electronic Telegraph


Thursday 26 February 1998
Issue 1007


United bundled out on Barnsley's night of glory
By Henry Winter


External Links

Barnsley Pics
Download United Program/Patch files



        Barnsley (2) 3 Manchester Utd (0) 2
                
          ON A NIGHT of unremitting excitement, when another
          glorious episode was added to the romantic legend of the FA
          Cup, Barnsley evicted Manchester United from football's oldest
          competition. United may have other priorities, such as the
          Premiership and Europe, but nothing should detract from
          Barnsley's marvellous feat, one that will linger long in the
          memory of all those who hold Oakwell dear, writes Henry Winter.
          
          Awe was absent from Barnsley minds. Neil Redfearn
          snapped away at David Beckham, testing the strength of the
          England midfielder's reputation and the length of his fuse.
          Martin Bullock, in sparkling form alongside Redfearn, took on
          opponents several weight divisions above him.
          
          From back to front, Danny Wilson's players were rising to the
          occasion, playing like men still stirred by that 7-0
          Premiership humiliation, not to mention that non- penalty in
          the first meeting. In goal, David Watson shrugged off Andy
          Cole's hard challenge, fortunately for Barnsley who had no
          spare keeper on the bench.
          
          And Barnsley, who now go to Newcastle in the quarter-finals
          thrillingly, took their chances when they came. John Hendrie,
          scorer of a sensational ninth-minute goal, was defying time and
          tacklers with marvellous gusto. Scott Jones, desperately
          inexperienced but relishing every second, broke off from
          shadowing Cole to add Barnsley's second and then, as the
          imagination was raided again, Barnsley's third.
          
          The home supporters, filling Oakwell to its ancient and modern
          rafters, shared this spirit of defiance. Toby Tyke, the club
          mascot, mimicked kung-fu kicks at those who used to hail Eric
          Cantona. Oakwell had waited many a long year for United to come
          calling, those with longer memories reflecting on the last
          visit, by Best, Law and Co in 1964. United had strolled to a
          4-0 victory then, also in the fifth round of this famous old
          tournament. Last night was never going to be as
          straightforward, particularly given the strength of Barnsley's
          ambition and the under-strength nature of Ferguson's line-up.
          
          United's manager had the excuse of so many injuries, although
          the sight of Denis Irwin and Teddy Sheringham on the bench
          indicated that the forthcoming matches with Chelsea, in the
          Premiership, and Monaco, in the Champions' League, carried
          greater importance.
          
          Yet as Barnsley began to embarrass United, Ferguson dispatched
          Sheringham into the fray after 34 minutes. The England striker
          replaced Erik Nevland, who had failed to link constructively
          with Cole.
          
          Poor Nevland, who lobbed wastefully wide early on, struggled to
          cope with Barnsley's determined defence. Yet by the time
          Sheringham arrived, United were behind to a splendid finish.
          Darren Barnard, a lively left wing-back, brilliantly picked out
          Hendrie, the ball threaded through defenders to free a forward
          who loves such situations.
          
          Hendrie, looking fractionally offside, strode on, shaping to
          shoot one way to the far-post. Then he changed angles, so
          startling Peter Schmeichel. Down came Hendrie's right boot, the
          outside sending the ball arrowing in at the near-post.
          
          Oakwell erupted and the fever never abated. Beckham struck a
          post as United poured forward in search of equality. Having
          created that opportunity for Beckham, Cole had two chances to
          score himself. Having hit the first straight at Watson, Cole
          sent the second tamely across goal.
          
          Yet Barnsley, looking for Ashley Ward to hold possession while
          support arrived, kept posing problems on the break. Ward forced
          Schmeichel into a near-post save. Jovo Bosancic saw a
          goal-bound shot deflected by David May. And all the while,
          Bullock scampered forward, Redfearn muscled forward and Hendrie
          twisted and turned.
          
          As the first half drew to a juddering climax, one Hendrie
          shimmy brought a clattering from Gary Pallister, which ended
          the Barnsley man's involvement. Again the hosts profited from a
          left-wing move. Barnard dummied to take the free-kick, which
          was lifted across by Redfearn, and Jones, arriving though a
          mass of white shirts, prodded the ball past Schmeichel.
          
          United's pressure increased after the break. Cole twice went
          close before Sheringham scored, his shot deflecting past Watson
          following Beckham's firm cross. These were nervous times for
          Barnsley, yet how Wilson's players responded. Again it was
          Jones who embarrassed United's defence, meeting Redfearn's
          66th-minute corner with a powerful header.
          
          The excitement never ebbed. Cole, having previously been denied
          by some superb penalty-box interceptions, made it 3-2 after 80
          minutes. Following some excellent approach play by Beckham,
          Cole sped through to place the ball confidently past Watson.
          Although an ugly flare-up scarred the final minute, nothing
          could mar Barnsley's night.
          __________________________________________________________
          
          Barnsley (2) 3 Man Utd (0) 2
          Hendrie 9, Jones 45, 65; Sheringham 56, Cole 81.

          Barnsley: Watson, Appleby (Sheridan 65), Moses, Hendrie
          (Liddell 46), Redfearn, Bullock (Marcelle 73), Bosancic, Jones,
          Barnard, Ward, Markstedt. Subs Not Used: Tinkler, Hristov.
          Booked: Hendrie, Bosancic, Redfearn, Marcelle.

          Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Pallister, Beckham, Cole,
          P. Neville, McClair (Irwin 49), Nevland (Sheringham 34),
          Thornley, Clegg (Twiss 78). Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw,
          Casper. Booked: G. Neville, Pallister, Sheringham, May,
          Thornley.

          Att: 18,655
          Ref: M A Riley (Leeds).
          __________________________________________________________

   Barnsley 3 Man Utd 2

   Unknown Scott Jones wrote himself a whole chapter in the FA Cup's
   glorious history as battling Barnsley ended United's treble dream.
   
   The young defender had come out of the Oakwell woodwork to make his
   first appearance for 11 months at Coventry on Saturday.
   
   And tonight the 22-year-old, only in the Barnsley side because Danny
   Wilson was without four defenders, scored the goals that will earn him
   a place in South Yorkshire folklore for years to come.
   
   Barnsley were given the perfect start when John Hendrie took advantage
   of a flag that never came to smash them in front and Jones made the
   impossible look likely when he stabbed home his first senior goal four
   minutes into first half stoppage time.
   
   Yet Alec Ferguson's understrength side showed the determination of
   champions as substitute Teddy Sheringham dragged them back into it
   with a deflection-aided 13th of the season.
   
   Dave Watson and his defence somehow withstood the onslaught as
   Barnsley flirted with the luck they were denied in the first meeting.
   
   And that was the cue for Jones to prove lightning can strike twice in
   the same place as he stormed up from the back to power home Neil
   Redfearn's corner and earn Wilson's braves a last eight trip to
   Newcastle.
   
   It was still nail-biting stuff, Andy Cole grabbing number 22 of the
   season late-on to ensure that Barnsley were whistling for the end long
   before it came.
   
   But with Barnsley's red wall creaking but just holding on the final
   whistle proved that not even United can win the Cup with less than
   half a side.
   
   It was wonderful stuff though, no quarters asked or given, a thrilling
   evening that showed what the greatest knockout competition of all is
   really about.
   
   Ferguson had been accused of not taking Barnsley seriously first time
   out, and with injuries and international calls having hit even harder
   United's side tonight was even more unfamiliar.
   
   It was Ferguson's decision to start without Sheringham and Denis
   Irwin, and a side containing just two scorers this term - Cole and
   David Beckham - included David May, Erik Nevland, Ben Thornley and
   Michael Clegg, who had not made a Premiership start between them.
   
   And with the Tykes still fired by a sense of Old Trafford injustice,
   the whiff of Cup cordite was in the air.
   
   It might have been blown away in the first United wave as Gary Neville
   found the freedom of the left and his brother's ball from the right
   fell for Nevland to whack into the side-netting.
   
   No blame for the young Norwegian there, but after Redfearn's header
   had tested Schmeichel, Nevland spurned a sitter.
   
   Beckham's 50-yard ball dropped beyond Adrian Moses and perfectly for
   Nevland, but with Dave Watson stranded the striker lobbed over the
   keeper but wide of the target.
   
   A miss that suddenly grew in importance as Hendrie took advantage of
   the lack of an offside flag to give Barnsley a ninth minute lead,
   taking Barnard's ball and flicking past Schmeichel and in off the bar
   with the outside of his right foot.
   
   This time United were furious with the officials - Gary Neville was
   booked - but they should have been on terms four minutes later.
   
   With Barnsley caught square, Cole's subtle ball found Beckham with
   time and space to measure a shot that left Watson for dead but bounced
   back across goal off the inside of the upright.
   
   Both sides were giving it everything, wrapped up in the passion of the
   night, with Watson denying Beckham and then - superbly - Cole, and
   Martin Bullock buzzing around and causing anxieties for the champions.
   
   When Sheringham came on for the limping Nevland before the break it
   looked as if normal service would resume, Cole spurning one
   opportunity, but just as it seemed Barnsley would be delighted to
   reach the break one up, they doubled that advantage.
   
   Gary Pallister went through Hendrie from behind, and when the Scot
   eventually was helped away, Jones got in front of Schmeichel to stick
   out the foot that diverted Redfearn's delivery home.
   
   Oakwell erupted and it might have been all over soon after the restart
   as Ashley Ward, all alone, failed to get a decisive touch to Barnard's
   cross.
   
   It began to look a crucial moment as Barnsley - with the hobbling
   Hendrie having not returned and Andy Liddell now up front - were
   unable to hold the ball.
   
   United, Irwin now on for McClair, were utterly dominant, swarming
   forward in waves, although at first with no fortune.
   
   Cole's header skimmed wide, then a shot from Thornley's cross was
   blocked before his follow-up scraped the outside of the goal, before
   fortune seemed to have turned.
   
   Beckham scampered down the left before finding Sheringham, whose shot
   on the turn would probably have been gathered by the excellent Watson
   if Moses' touch had not left the keeper helpless.
   
   Barnsley were panicking, all hands to the pump, Moses just beating
   Cole to the touch in front of goal, Sheringham heading across the face
   of the target.
   
   They did at least have the direct thrust of Bullock, and even if ward
   again failed to convert in front of goal the home fans were in ecstasy
   from the resulting Redfearn corner.
   
   United had failed to heed the message of the first half, leaving Jones
   unattended as he raced in, and with a stumble leaving Schmeichel
   momentarily on the floor, there was nothing to prevent the defender
   completing the fairytale.
   
   Not that United gave up, indeed their efforts grew even more
   intensive. Cole could not believe he did not score, even Gary Neville
   saw a point-blank header blocked on the line.
   
   Eventually, with eight minutes left, Cole finally got what he
   deserved, ramming home after Sheringham had flicked on Beckham's ball
   into the danger zone.
   
   Now United could sense it was still there for them, throwing
   everything at the Premiership whipping boys.
   
   But somehow it stayed out. Ward blocked from Gary Neville and Cole and
   Thornley lofted over when he could not miss. He did though and after
   six nerve-shredding minutes United were out, Barnsley through.
   Fantastic stuff.
   Teams
   
   Barnsley: Watson, Appleby (Sheridan 65), Moses, Hendrie (Liddell 46),
   Redfearn, Bullock (Marcelle 73), Bosancic, Jones, Barnard, Ward,
   Markstedt.
   Subs Not Used: Tinkler, Hristov.
   Booked: Hendrie, Bosancic, Redfearn, Marcelle.
   Goals: Hendrie 9, Jones 45, 65.
   
   Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Pallister, Beckham, Cole, P.
   Neville, McClair (Irwin 49), Nevland (Sheringham 34), Thornley, Clegg
   (Twiss 78).
   Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Casper.
   Booked: G. Neville, Pallister, Sheringham, May, Thornley.
   Goals: Sheringham 56, Cole 81.
   
   Att: 18,655
   Ref: M A Riley (Leeds).


[main] [top scorers] [league results/table] [match reports] [archive]
[gallery] [united faq] [links] [sign my guestbook]

Any comments are welcomed.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

Telegraph Group Limited endeavours to ensure that the information is correct but does not accept any liability for error or omission.

Users are permitted to copy some material for their personal use, but may not republish any substantial part of the data either on another website or as part of any commercial service without the prior written permission of Telegraph Group Limited.

Note : At times, reports are taken from Reuters and FA Carling Net.

Today's edition of Electronic Telegraph...