The lottery of a penalty shoot out was the difference between Pool and a place in the second round.

The visitors began proceedings attacking a sparsely populated North Stand and in just the third minute former Pool loanee Tommy Wright received a lecture off referee Graham Laws after he caught Ian Evatt whilst challenging for a header.

Barnsley's on loan keeper Vito Mennone produced a fine punching clearance from a Shaun Barker long throw in, the clearance prompted Barnsley to attack down the Pool left, a superb cross from Nicky Wroe saw Rhys Evans come through a crowd to punch clear, but as he punched clear he was sent tumbling to the ground by another reckless challenge from Tommy Wright, Wright deservedly picked up a yellow card for his troubles and perhaps was a tad fortunate not to see a red.

Debutant Wes Hoolahan played a sublime cross field ball to Rory Prendergast on seven minutes, the former Barnsley winger burst forward before seeing his long range effort fly just over the bar.

The ninth minute of the game saw Pool test the visitors defence with a well worked set play involving David Fox, Scott Vernon and Andy Morrell, unfortunately for Pool the Tykes defence somehow managed to scramble clear.

At the other end another swift counter attack saw Barnsley's Nathan Jarman fire just over.

The quarter hour point saw Pool force their first corner of the evening, David Fox saw his cross cleared at the second attempt as Pool continued to more than match their Championship opponents.

Rhys Evans fumbled a deep cross out for a corner on 29 minutes, fortunately the former Swindon man was able to redeem himself with a fine take from the resulting set play.

Seconds later Keith Southern forced Mennone into a fine save, the big stopper dived to his right to turn Southern's strike behind for a corner after the Pool midfielder had been found following a great ball from the impressive Hoolahan.

Scott Vernon saw a first time volley fly well wide after Andy Morrell had laid off following another good ball from Hoolahan.

Tommy Wright who was booed at every opportunity saw a long range strike drift wide on 37 minutes.

McParland saw a shot deflect well wide for a corner, the talented midfielder floated a great set piece to Robbie Williams who saw his bullet header rebound off the post and eventually the Pool defence managed to scramble clear.

Scott Vernon fired straight at the keeper shortly before the break after Shaun Barker burst out of defence.

In stoppage time Keith Southern's persistence earned Pool a corner, another well worked play saw Vernon come short before firing over.

Half Time Blackpool 0 Barnsley 0

The second half was less than sixty seconds old when Pool forced a corner, but once again the visitors defence stood firm and cleared the danger.

The game was almost turned on it's head on 50 minutes when the referee awarded Barnsley a penalty. Graham Laws adjudged Pool skipper Michael Jackson to have fouled Tommy Wright, for everyone on Bloomfield Road it looked as though the Pool skipper had took the ball rather than the man, Wright stepped up to take the kick and saw his penalty tipped away by Rhys Evans. Before the spot kick Paul Tierney picked up a yellow card following a choice remark made to the referee.

Seconds later, the linesman awarded the visitors a second penalty following a David Fox challenge on Dale Tonge, ROBBIE WILLIAMS stepped up to take the kick and despite the best efforts of Rhys Evans the visitors took the lead.

Pool responded brightly and on the hour Paul Tierney forced Pool yet another corner but once again the set play failed to trouble the Barnsley defence.

That corner was to be Rory Prendergast's last touch of the game with Simon Grayson throwing on Keigan Parker. Parker joined Scott Vernon up top with Andy Morrell moving to the right hand side of midfield.

Andy Morrell saw a shot saved at the second attempt by Mennone on 62 minutes

Scott Vernon saw a shot blocked straight into the path of David Fox who saw his effort blocked.

A Wes Hoolahan cross was turned behind for yet another corner on 67 minutes, but Michael Jackson could only direct his finish into the North Stand.

Pool's persistence and hard work was rewarded on 70 minutes when SCOTT VERNON put Pool back on level terms when he headed home a great free kick from David Fox.

A minute later Keith Southern almost headed Pool into the lead, a great move down the right wing saw Morrell cross to an unmarked Southern who glanced his header just wide.

Despite Barnsley throwing on Michael McIndoe and Martin Devaney Pool were still looking the more threatening, Scott Vernon saw a header take a deflection wide for a corner, whilst Keigan Parker had a penalty appeal turned down after he appeared to have been fouled.

At the other end Rhys Evans had to collect a couple of corners whilst Shaun Barker had to turn over his crossbar under pressure from Tommy Wright.

Pool made their second change with seven minutes remaining when Marcus Bean replaced a shattered David Fox. Barnsley also made a change with striker Paul Hayes replacing Nicky Wroe.

Keith Southern picked up a yellow card after a Barnsley player had clearly lay on the ball, the correct decision would have been a free kick to Pool for obstruction but that was just one of many poor decisions by the officials.

Scott Vernon almost fired Pool into the second round, the in form striker elected to go for goal rather than square to his waiting team mates, but the striker's finish was blocked by the keeper.

In the dying seconds of normal time Wes Hoolahan beat three men before firing straight at the keeper. That missed chance saw the game go into Extra Time much to the delight of former Pool striker Keith Mercer who picked up an extra £30 from PA News!

Score At 90 Minutes Blackpool 1 Barnsley 0

The visitors kicked off extra time and Pool were soon on the attack with Keigan Parker firing straight at the keeper in just the first minute.

Two minutes later Wes Hoolahan saw a corner cleared with ease by the visitors defence.
At the other end Nathan Jarman fired well wide, whilst Devaney's mazy run saw the Barnsley substitute fire wide.

Pool forced another corner, this time Wes Hoolahan's effort headed behind for a corner by the Tykes defence. Keigan Parker stepped up and saw his cross headed wide by Ian Evatt.

Keigan Parker saw a first time shot parried by Mennone straight to Marcus Bean, Marcus Bean saw his shot deflected behind for a corner. The resulting corner caused Barnsley all kinds of problems and the visitors were content to head behind for yet another corner, this time Keigan Parker's effort eluded everyone and Barnsley were able to clear.

Keith Southern almost headed into his own goal with a couple of minutes of the first half remaining, but he was relieved figure when Rhys Evans tipped behind for a corner. The resulting corner saw Pool fail to clear their lines and were indebted to another brilliant save from Rhys Evans who somehow managed to tip Jarman's rasping shot onto the bar.

Half Time Extra Time Blackpool 1 Barnsley 1

The second period was less than a couple of minutes old when Pool were forced to make their final change when Wes Hoolahan was replaced by Danny Coid, the talented Irishman appeared to be suffering from cramp as he left to a standing ovation.

Keigan Parker fired straight at the keeper on 108 minutes

The visitors were denied a winner when Rhys Evans blocked after Tommy Wright found himself through on goal following a great ball from Paul Hayes, the ball fell to Nathan Jarman who had time and space and should have rolled it into the back of the net, but he somehow managed to miss the target and Pool cleared.

Midway through the second period Keigan Parker curled over after a great ball from Paul Tierney, whilst Andy Morrell headed fired straight at the keeper as Pool continued to press for a winner.

Robbie Williams picked up a yellow card following a late challenge on Andy Morrell, the resulting free kick saw Keigan Parker cross to the far post where Ian Evatt headed back across goal to Shaun Barker who saw his shot cleared off the line.

With four minutes of Extra Time remaining, Barnsley snatched a dramatic goal when MARTIN DEVANEY scampered clear of the Pool defence to fire beyond Rhys Evans. A minute later Rhys Evans blocked at the feet of Devaney as Barnsley looked to finish the game on a high.

In the last minute of Extra Time Pool snatched an equaliser, Keith Southern hooked a long ball to Andy Morrell who headed straight into the path of SCOTT VERNON who blasted home with a fantastic strike.

That fantastic strike forced the game into the lottery that it is penalties.

The shoot out began in front of the North Stand with the Pool faithful chanting the name of Rhys Evans.

Scott Vernon stepped up first and blasted straight down the middle to give Mennone no chance.

Michael McIndoe stepped up for the visitors and put Barnsley back on level terms despite Rhys Evans guessing the right way.

Skipper Michael Jackson was next up for Pool and the commanding defender saw his effort smash back of the right hand post.

Martin Devaney sent Rhys Evans the wrong way to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Keith Southern blasted straight down the middle to make it 2-2. Substitute Paul Hayes made it 3-2 with an arrogantly taken spot kick, Rhys Evans dived the wrong way and Hayes rolled the ball into the other corner.

Keigan Parker blasted straight at the keeper to keep the score at 3-2 to the visitors.

Bobby Hassell stepped up to fire Barnsley into the second round.

Pool: Evans, Barker, Evatt, Jackson, Tierney, Hoolahan (Coid 105), Southern, Fox (Bean 84), Prendergast (Parker 61), Vernon, Morrell

Attendance: 3938