Liam Kitching ensures Barnsley edge Bolton to make League One playoff final

Barnsley will face South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the League One playoff final at Wembley after a 1-0 victory over Bolton on Friday secured a 2-1 aggregate win.

The second leg was settled by a first-half goal from Liam Kitching at Oakwell, the Barnsley defender powering home a header from Luca Connell’s fine cross. Bolton rallied for a spell following the break, but they were unable to find a way back into the game.

Barnsley head coach, Michael Duff, named an unchanged side while Bolton manager, Ian Evatt, made two changes following the 1-1 draw in the first leg, with Dan Nlundulu and George Thomason restored to the starting lineup.

Barnsley threatened first when Connell fired in a low drive from distance early on that was comfortably saved by James Trafford. At the other end, Nlundulu sent in a shot on target but it failed to trouble Harry Isted in the Barnsley goal.

Kitching then tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which was straight at Trafford, but the visiting keeper was made to work harder by Herbie Kane soon after as he stretched to gather the midfielder’s low shot. Kitching was back in the action in the 24th minute, and this time broke the deadlock. Connell whipped in a superb cross and Kitching climbed above his marker on the edge of the six-yard box to thump a header past Trafford.

As Barnsley looked to build on their lead, Adam Phillips saw his free-kick crash against the defensive wall. Bolton made a strong start to the second half and Conor Bradley looked for a penalty after going down under a challenge inside the area, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.

Aaron Morley then tried a shot from distance that went wide while Thomason had a goal-bound effort blocked as the visitors