Walsall 1 Barnsley 3 - (Agg 6 -1) Report and pictures

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Walsall's season ended in heartbreak after they suffered a devastating aggregate defeat to Barnsley in the League One play-off semi-final.more

The Saddlers entered the second leg at the Banks's Stadium looking to produce history and overturn the 3-0 loss inflicted by the Tykes on Saturday.

But goals from Adam Hammill, Ash Fletcher and Josh Brownhill saw Paul Heckingbottom's men run out 3-1 winners on the night and 6-1 on aggregate.

It means Walsall's season ultimately ends in disappointment with Jon Whitney's side narrowly missing out on automatic promotion and then being deservedly beaten by Barnsley in the play-offs.

Keen to mix things up after the disappointing first leg, boss Whitney sprung a surprise in naming his starting XI with the Saddlers switching back to a 3-5-2 formation.

It meant there were recalls for Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom with Jordy Hiwula coming in to partner Tom Bradshaw up front.

Milan Lalkovic, Anthony Forde and Kieron Morris were the men to make way with all three amongst the substitutes.

Barnsley's head coach Paul Heckingbottom stuck with the same team that secured victory at Oakwell with the Tykes lining up unchanged for the fifth consecutive game.

Walsall began the tie hoping to become the first team since the play-offs were introduced back in 1987 to overcome a three goal deficit.

And their eagerness could be seen in the opening minutes with Whitney's men throwing themselves into tackles and producing a number of robust challenges as they looked to stamp their authority on the game.

But Barnsley also started brightly and they should have put the tie to bed as early the seventh minute after forcing a corner.

Adam Hammill's delivery was met six-yards out by an unmarked Alfie Mawson but with the goal at his mercy, the defender powered a header over.

Undeterred, Walsall went straight up the other end with Bradshaw forcing a free-kick in a dangerous area after being tripped on the edge of the box.

Taylor took the resultant set-piece but his crisp strike sailed inches above Adam Davies' goal.

The game had started with a real edge to it but in the 18th minute, Barnsley got the goal that put to the tie to bed once and for all.

Conor Hourihane's whipped in cross dropped perfectly for Hammill with the winger taking a touch before calmly slotting past Neil Etheridge from inside the six-yard box.

Now needing four goals just to force extra-time, Walsall had two glorious chances to try and get themselves back into the game.

First, Hiwula pounced on a Mawson mistake to play Bradshaw in. The Welsh striker carried the ball into the box but, one-on-one, screwed his shot wide.

Rico Henry picked up the loose ball and fired across goal but Romaine Sawyers was just unable to divert it goalwards.

Both sides were now looking dangerous and the visitors almost extended their lead when Sam Winnall met another fine Hourihane delivery.

The striker's header looked destined to nestle in the back of the net but it was kept out by a brilliant save by Etheridge from point-blank range.

Suddenly the game had become end-to-end with Walsall then coming a whisker away moments later.

Sawyers sent in a wonderful cross with the outside of the boot which was met in the air by Bradshaw but Davies produced a fine one-handed stop to keep the ball out.

Now enjoying the lion's share of possession, the Saddlers continued to press as the game approached half time.

And they came close again when Sawyers hit a firm strike straight at Davies after being played in by Mantom.

The half-time whistle followed shortly after with Whitney's side high on endeavour but lacking quality in the final third.

It was Heckingbottom's side who threatened first after the interval with James O'Connor bravely throwing himself in front of a Fletcher strike.

A ball over the top then saw the Manchester United loanee run in behind the Saddlers' defence with Paul Downing just nipping into stop Winnall tapping home his cutback.

After one or two half hearted appeals for a penalty, Walsall registered their first effort of the half on the hour mark with Adam Chambers hitting a crisp low drive which Davies pushed away.

Whitney then made their first change with Jordan Cook introduced for Taylor.

Within minutes though, the Tykes had extended their lead as Fletcher controlled Hammill's cross before firing beyond Etheridge.

The goal understandably took the sting out of the game.

But with five minutes remaining, Walsall managed to pull one back when Cook curled a delightful strike into the top corner from 20-yards.

It was the Tykes though who had the last word with Brownhill netting in 90th minute when he capitalised on a defensive mix-up to tap the ball into an empty net.