Barnsley 3-3 Horsham: Non-league side earn FA Cup first-round replay after six-goal thriller

Seventh-tier Horsham earned an FA Cup first-round replay with League One side Barnsley after a thrilling six-goal draw at Oakwell.

Horsham then stunned the hosts when James Hammond hammered home a penalty kick after Corey O’Keeffe brought down Ajakaiye, but Barnsley’s Fabio Jalo curled a stunning equaliser into the top corner on the stroke of half-time.

Barnsley went back in front when Mael de Gevigney glanced home O’Keefe’s corner and they wasted a host of chances before Tom Richards tapped in for the visitors following a lightning break from Jack Strange.

The two sides will meet again in Sussex on Tuesday, 14 November.

Horsham had never beaten a Football League side in their four previous trips to the first round proper, but Dominic di Paola’s side will have another chance to do so as they look to reach the second round for only the second time in their 142-year history.

They were spearheaded by the threat of Ajakaiye and the saves of Lewis Carey who denied Watters and Jalo among a host of saves before the break.

But while the part-timers were clinical, Barnsley were the architects of their own downfall, wasting a hatful of chances, with Callum Styles side-footing a first-half volley against the bar.

Neill Collins’ side again looked to have taken control as de Gevigney seemed to restore order as the visitors looked to be running out of steam.

It seemed likely that Barnsley’s fitness would be key, but a combination of poor finishing and Carey’s inspired evening kept the visitors in the game.

And they duly exploited the opportunity as Richards stunned the home supporters with nine minutes left.

Barnsley’s profligacy continued into seven minutes of stoppage time as Adam Phillips screwed a chance wide when well placed and Styles turned a shot into the side-netting from six yards.

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins told BBC Radio Sheffield:

“It’s quite clear to anyone who was here that the performance was nowhere near good enough. I didn’t see some of the individual performances coming. I’m still learning about the group. We’re still trying to get momentum and a habit of winning, and I thought I picked a team to do that.

“There weren’t many positives but we’re still in the hat and Fabio was excellent. You can have a slight off night but we went from one extreme to the other, in terms of some really basic errors. There were some really poor mistakes for their goals. It seemed to just be a domino effect that ran through the whole game. We couldn’t get ourselves going.

“We got back in front at 3-2. We should have made it four and moved on quickly. Instead, we lose another goal and it quickly becomes a storyline we didn’t want. We lacked quality, we didn’t do the basics well enough, we missed chances and gave up. Their goalkeeper was in inspired form but it comes down to quality – we should be punishing them.”

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola:

“You could see at the end, I don’t think there was anyone without cramp. For us to put in that performance, away from home against a side as good as them, is just incredible.

“There’s been a bit of controversy around the FA stuff and there’s been some issues here. I noticed there wasn’t any police, which is quite ironic considering that was the reason the game was supposedly moved [from Saturday to Friday night].

“I do feel that justice has been done. I never understood the decision in the first place.

“It’s just so pleasing that we can bring them back to our place. We can bring the town out and be allowed to let our supporters actually watch us in such a high-profile game.”