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).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook