In one of the most bizarre finishes to a football match in recent history, Barnsley snatched a win over League One rivals Wycombe – and gave their time-wasting opponents the ultimate comeuppance.
Winless in their last six matches, Wycombe Wanderers fans had made a six-hour round trip to Oakwell to watch their team close in on a draw before a miserable goalkeeping howler from Polish gloveman Max Stryjek.
Deep in stoppage time, Stryjek was burning up the clock with the ball at his feet when Barnsley striker Sam Cosgrove closed him down.
Stryjek went to pick up the ball but was lightly nudged by Cosgrove in the process, sending Stryjek dramatically tumbling to the ground in the hopes of winning a free kick.
But referee Darren Drysdale didn’t call a foul for the minimal contact and the ball came loose, gifting Cosgrove the simplest of finishes to win the game for Barnsley.
Wanderers players were incensed, with Harry Boyes sent off when he was handed a second caution for dissent towards Drysdale. Goalkeeper Stryjek also received a yellow card for dissent.
“It’s the best goal I’ve scored,” Cosgrove joked to BBC Sheffield after his maiden goal for the club.
He added that Wycombe had time-wasted since midway through the first half.
“I’ve probably nudged into him. There’s a little bit of contact but nowhere near enough for him to drop the ball and fall on the floor,” he added.
“There’s absolutely no need for him to drop the ball and go down in that fashion. Fair play to the ref and kudos to him for seeing that … it wasn’t a foul.”
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Barnsley manager Neil Collins said: “I’ve just watched it (the incident) back there. Make of it what you want; for me the contact is nowhere near enough to go down. The keeper drops the ball, if he holds onto the ball we’re not even talking about it.
“He certainly doesn’t drop the ball because of Sam (Cosgrove)’s contact. He drops the ball because he falls to the floor and Sam finishes it off like a good striker should.
“I don’t want the bizarre circumstances of the goal to take away from the fact that we deservedly won three points. We did everything but put the ball in the net in the second half and eventually got the reward.”
While initially incensed, Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield managed to compose himself by his press conference after the match.
He said: “We’ve conceded a goal tonight that I’ve never seen in my time in football; the circumstances surrounding it.
“Our players put so much into that performance coming off the back of a disappointing result at the weekend. It actually looked like it was going to be us that was going to go and nick it at the end.”
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He revealed that he deliberately decided not to confront the referee at the final whistle.
Bloomfield said: “I couldn’t go and speak (to the referee) at the full-time whistle. I thought the most important thing at that point was to go applaud our supporters who make their way all the up here on a Tuesday night.
“We’ve seen it a multitude of times where strikers run into goalkeepers, that’s usually what happens and it’s usually given as a foul.
“To finish the game like that is really disappointing.”
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ESPN analyst Luis Miguel Echegaray tweeted: “Barnsley scored a 91st min winner vs. Wycombe Wanderers in the most ridiculous way. I have zero words to explain this.
“Also. Wycombe midfielder Harry Boyes got sent off after complaining.
“I love this game.”
Sky Sports presenter Neil Mellor tweeted: “A terrible game became memorable. Wycombe goalie got what he deserved. Tried to waste time, got nudged, fell down and dropped the ball to striker’s feet.
“Well done striker. Well done officials. Goal! Winning goal! #soccerspecial”
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