BARNSLEY will be sick of the sight of Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

At Oakwell in December he scored a last-gasp leveller to earn Town a vital point.

Now he's floored them again to seal the sort of win which makes you feel Peter Jackson's side are somehow destined to go up.

It came fortuitously after 55 minutes of an enthralling derby battle in which Town rode their luck and Barnsley missed a string of gilt-edged chances.

The visitors' frustration eventually boiled over when substitute Danny Nardiello was sent off for gross stupidity - well foul and abusive language to the referee, actually, but it amounted to the same thing.

Only five minutes remained at that stage and, even though Mick Fletcher added four more for stoppages, Town ran down the clock pretty professionally and without the usual catalogue of defensive dramas.

It was the perfect build-up to a massive celebration for the home contingent in Town's biggest stadium League crowd for five years - because they knew exactly how much the three points meant.

Not that the final whistle was the first time they'd been on their feet.

Taylor-Fletcher deservedly received a standing ovation when he went off suffering back and hamstring spasms with half an hour of the contest still to go.

It was a measure of his contribution in a frenetic first half and recognition of a scrambled 13th goal of the season which may prove to be one of the most important of his career.

Given a start ahead of recovering illness victim David Graham, Fletch proved to everyone it was the right decision and, when he poked home Andy Holdsworth's cross when colliding with keeper Nick Colgan 10 minutes into the second half, the stadium volume went off the dial.

By then, Barnsley's Chris Shuker had been denied by a brilliant goalline clearance from back-tracking Town skipper Jon Worthington and striker Marc Richards had been booked for a dive when the visiting camp felt Nathan Clarke's challenge from behind was a certain penalty.

Town's luck stretched way beyond there, however.

Lively Paul Hayes fired over from a Richards tee-up just before the break and, as Barnsley responded to Fletcher's goal, Shuker crashed a shot against the crossbar and Phil Senior had to be sparklingly alert to keep out follow-ups from Richards and Hayes.

Town's biggest escape came on 67 minutes, though, when from a lightning break by Shuker and a cross by Hayes, Richards missed an open goal from no more than seven yards out.

It was an unbelievable blunder and one which ultimately cost Barnsley a share of the spoils, although Town had their moments as well.

Colgan saved splendidly from Andy Booth's close-range header on 16 minutes while Danny Schofield, whose skills on the ball were a feature of the afternoon, curled an effort wide when he ought to have hit the target cutting in.

Two minutes from time, too, Shuker managed to replicate Worthington's earlier goalline clearance as substitute Graham went perilously close on the break to sealing the result with his seventh goal in just 10 loan appearances from Barnsley's great rivals from Hillsborough.

In truth, Town were in control by then but it had been a titanic battle against the excellent Shuker and Hayes and the aggressive Howard.

It took all Booth's aerial skill against Paul Reid and Antony Kay to give Town options, while Fletch and Schofield were always willing workers around the ball-playing of Worthington and Mark Hudson, who made some encouraging breaks forward and finished with four stitches in an ankle wound.

It was at the back where performances proved the most eye-catching, however, as Clarke and the peerless David Mirfin got to grips with the powerful Barnsley frontline and held them at bay.

Mirfin got better and better and, having been patient for a chance, he looks determined to keep his place.

On this form he's a certainty and, for the team, a great win to bolster hopes of automatic.

Next page: Man of the Match >>>

Man of the Match: David Mirfin

Took the award with some quality work at the back, holding off a number of strong contenders in much the same manner he denied Richards and company in the game. Tremendous

Turning Point:

Some might argue that Worthington's early goalline clearance to deny Shuker was crucial to the outcome because had Barnsley taken a fourth minute lead, they would have been very difficult to peg back.

But the goal, made by Holdsworth and scored by Taylor-Fletcher was just about priceless for Town

How They Rated

Phil Senior Made vital saves after Shuker hit the bar and generally did well in a tricky wind to keep a first clean sheet in six Rating: 7/10

Andy Holdsworth Back to his best after being under the weather at Port Vale. Made the goal and some fine covering tackles Rating: 8/10

Danny Adams Misjudged a couple of bouncing through balls and Worthington rescued one with a top goalline clearance Rating: 6/10

David Mirfin Solid throughout and did enough to take the top mark as Barnsley drew a blank. Very assured on his return Rating: 9/10

Nathan Clarke Always reliable when Town looked stretched and he was unlucky to get booked. Provided top-class cover Rating: 8/10

Danny Schofield Tremendous close skill on the ball and he was a constant thorn in the Barnsley side. Pity he couldn't find a finish Rating: 8/10

Jon Worthington His goalline clearance to prevent Shuker scoring in only the fourth minute typified his work for the team Rating: 8/10

Mark Hudson Made some promising forward runs, particularly early in the game, and got four stitches in an ankle for his troubles Rating: 7/10

Chris Brandon Not one of his better days and he was unable to make a telling influence. Came in for some heavy tackling Rating: 6/10

Andy Booth Won plenty of headers once again and almost always found a blue and white shirt. Close with a first-half header Rating: 8/10

Gary T-Fletcher Scored another vital winner, his 13th of the season, to win it and his performance until he went off was terrific Rating: 8/10

Spotlight on the Ref:

Mick Fletcher from Worcester looked like he was going to lose control of a keenly-contested game at one stage but, thankfully, he kept his cool.

Got Heckingbottom instead of Howard for the first-half foul on Brandon which would have earned Howard a red, but the dismissal of Nardiello for dissent was spot on

Barnsley: Colgan; Austin (Williams 56), Reid, Kay, Heckingbottom (McParland 85); Shuker, McPhail, Howard, Devaney (Nardiello 70); Richards, Hayes. Subs not used: Flinders, Wroe.