Ipswich finally ended their play-off hoodoo to book a place in the Premiership after a pulsating clash with a battling Barnsley side at Wembley. Second-half strikes from Richard Naylor and Marcus Stewart gave George Burley's side a 3-1 advantage, but Dave Bassett's men refused to lie down and forced their way back into contention with Craig Hignett's penalty 13 minutes from time. Goalkeeper Richard Wright, who stopped a first-half spot-kick from Darren Barnard, then pulled off a stunning save to deny Georgi Hristov. Martijn Reuser, who came on as a late substitute for Stewart, made sure of the result with Barnsley committed to attack in the closing stages.
Hignett had given Barnsley the lead after just six minutes with a sublime 30-yard strike, but Tony Mowbray's header saw the teams go in level at the break.With just 20 minutes standing between their heroes and a place in the top-flight the Town fans began cheering every touch from their side. Naylor could have claimed his second and Town's fourth after deft touches from Magilton and Stewart, but he was forced wide following composed defending by Chettle. The busy Hignett was eager to get his side back into the match and his ball into Hristov then reached Shipperley, but Wright saved his weak shot with Comfort. But Barnsley refused to lie down and won their second penalty of the match when Thomas lifted the ball over Mowbray and went down as he tried to go round the veteran defender. Heilbron, in his final game before retirement, again pointed to the spot and the kicking duties were this time taken by Hignett, who made no mistake from 12
yards.
With time running out, Bassett's side threw everything they had at the retreating Ipswich defence, roared on by their passionate followers from South Yorkshire. Burley made another change eight minutes from time, with crowd favourite Martijn Reuser replacing goalscorer Stewart. Barnsley were again denied by the brilliant Wright six minutes from time when he produced a point-blank stop from Hristov's header after Eaden's ball into the box. But Reuser made sure of the result as he was released by Naylor before running 40 yards and blasting the ball beyond Miller in the final minute.
