League One Playoff Final 2016: Score, Reaction from Barnsley vs. Millwall

Ashley Fletcher put Barnsley ahead after less than 90 seconds, as the Tykes went on to beat Millwall 3-1 in the League One Playoff final at Wembley on Sunday to secure promotion to the Championship next season. 

A wonder goal from Adam Hammill doubled Barnsley's lead, before Lloyd Isgrove nodded in a third 16 minutes from time, on a day when the Johnstone's Paint Trophy winners produced a brilliant display of attractive, attacking football.

Still, Millwall played their part, refusing to wilt when they seemed destined to be overrun early on. Centre-back Mark Beevers, a Barnsley fan, made things nervy by pegging one back for Millwall in the first half, but the Lions didn't see enough of the ball after the break to complete the comeback. 

The win marks a remarkable turnaround for Barnsley caretaker manager and former player Paul Heckingbottom, since the club was bottom of the division in December, two months before he took over, per Sky Sports Statto:

Heckingbottom and Barnsley turned things around by favouring a bold and expansive approach that made the most of forward-thinking talents such as Hammill and Fletcher.

The latter was partnered by crafty fellow forward Sam Winnall at Wembley, while classy schemer Conor Hourihane supplemented Hammill's creative verve:

Millwall boss Neil Harris, a former prolific goal-getter for the Lions, relied on the complementary striker pairing of target man Steve Morison and the quick Lee Gregory:

It was Barnsley who made the brighter start, recycling the ball in a typically smart and stylish way. They played passes at angles and always aimed to release pace behind the Millwall back four.

Yet rather than collective creativity, it was a moment of individual brilliance that set Fletcher free, after the Manchester United loanee took the ball down with a neat touch on the turn, held off his marker and dragged a precise, low shot into the bottom corner.

OptaJoe detailed how suddenly Barnsley had gained the lead:

Buoyed by the early goal, the Tykes ratcheted up the pressure. Their passing remained slick, as was the movement, with wingers Hammill and Southampton loanee Isgrove playing like false wide men, consistently drifting into central areas.

Whenever they did, triangles formed around Hourihane, who took care of the ball like it was gold. The triangles let Barnsley pass around Millwall with relative ease.

Hammill wasn't shy about cutting infield when he rifled home Barnsley's second. It was an expertly lifted shot that curled into the top corner.

As OptaJoe noted, scoring the spectacular has become a habit for Hammill on this illustrious pitch:

Things were moving serenely for Heckingbottom's men, who looked a good bet to put the game out of sight even before the break. So it was against the run of play when Millwall hit back.

Morison, who had won everything in the air, flicked on a corner at the near post, and the ball eventually dropped to Beevers, who slammed home the finish on the turn. It was a neat piece of control and skill from a central defender who doesn't find the net too often, per Sky Sports Statto:

Obviously angered by losing control before the break, Barnsley emerged for the second half determined to make another fast start. Hourihane was again on the ball a lot, constantly probing for a defence-splitting pass in the final third.

The combinations were soon clicking again for Heckingbottom's men, as Hammill and Winnall wowed the crowd with a suave one-two that almost released the latter in behind.

Yet Millwall didn't lose their threat, nor did they change their means of posing one, with the long ball to Morison still a useful outlet.

The 32-year-old striker rounded Tykes goalkeeper Adam Davies just after the hour mark but pushed the ball too wide. His subsequent cross caused a wild scramble in the box, one Barnsley eventually survived when Davies punched clear amid the melee.

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Generally, though, Barnsley took the sting out of the game with their steady work in possession. One passage of play led to a free-kick that Hammill whipped in dangerously to help win the corner that brought the winner.

Hourihane delivered it, and Isgrove met it with a glancing header, coming back to the ball and outwitting his marker. SkySportsFL relayed some snaps of the goal:

Determined not to give up without a fight, Millwall fashioned a great chance in the final five minutes when midfielder Chris Taylor was sent clear through the middle. But Davies came up big, diving to turn away the prodded shot and keeping Barnsley's two-goal advantage intact.

It was as close as the Lions came to salvaging some pride, though. Instead, Barnsley might have added to their tally had the final ball not let down a series of intricate and eye-pleasing moves in and around the box late on.

Post-Match Reaction

Heckingbottom saluted the togetherness of his double-Wembley-winning squad, per The Football League:

As for Harris, he rued the inability of his team to use their goal as a platform for a comeback. But he also promised better for the Lions next season, according to the club's official site:

The Tykes are worthy winners, having stayed faithful to the quality of their game on the big occasion. Hammill was outstanding, dancing a merry tune that left Millwall baffled and proving he's talented enough for at least the next level up.

The same is true of Hourihane, who dictated passing with the assurance and guile of a seasoned midfield general. Thoughts will now turn to Heckingbottom's future; he must remain with the club if Barnsley are going to be a factor in the Championship.