Barnsley will face local rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley in the League One play-off final after a 1-0 win over visitors Bolton Wanderers in the second leg of their semi-final.

Liam Kitching headed in midway through the first half in which the Reds were impressive, before holding on in a tense second period to win 2-1 on aggregate.

Barnsley had marginally the better chances overall and registered a club record 32nd win in all competitions this season.

The final is on Monday, May 29.

Michael Duff did not make any changes to the starting line-up from the first leg which was drawn 1-1, with Barry Cotter replacing Ziyad Larkeche on the bench.

Bolton brought George Thomason into midfield for Josh Sheehan and Dan Nlundulu in up front for Elias Kachunga.

Bolton had the first shot of the game when Dion Charles brought down a long ball and fired tamely at Harry Isted from just outside the box then, at the other end, Luca Connell’s low 25-yard effort was easily gathered by James Trafford.

Isted also saved from Nlundulu who received a pass from the right of the box and scuffed a 12-yard shot on the turn. Trafford easily saved another low long-range shot, this time by Kitching after good passes by Connell and Herbie Kane, who then saw a third low long-range shot saved by Trafford diving to his left.

The opener arrived on 25 minutes when Connell, having seen a poor free-kick from the left easily cleared, got the ball back and sent in a fantastic cross which Kitching brilliantly headed home ten yards out. Bolton were furious with the initial free-kick given against Eoin Toal for a foul on Nicky Cadden but Barnsley passed the ball into their own half and back out to the wing in a long passage of play after the set piece.

That was the last real action of a pleasing first half for the Reds who had kept their visitors quiet for the most part and been the more threatening side throughout.

Kitching lost the ball just outside his box early in the second half to Charles who played in Conor Bradley who went down in the box after contact from Mads Andersen but no penalty was given.

Bolton were on top for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but did not create any real chances with Bobby Thomas blocking in the box from George Thomason.

Barnsley settled into the second half and Adam Phillips almost scored a magnificent goal when he flicked the ball over the foot of a defender on the edge of the box then clipped the bar with a fine strike.

Cole shot wide of the bottom right corner from 15 yards out after missing a fine chance to put Kane clean through on the left.

Bolton were given an indirect free-kick in the box for a passback by Andersen to Isted but Aaron Morley blazed over after the ball was laid back to him 15 yards from goal.

Jordan Williams almost netted in the 96th minute but fired wide of the bottom left corner after leading a breakaway.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Phillips (Benson 85mins), Connell (Russell 85), Kane, Cadden; Cole. (L Thomas 87), Tedic (Norwood 65).

Unused: Collins, Cotter, Watters.

Goals: Kitching 25.

Yellow cards: Cole.

Bolton (3-4-1-2): Trafford; Toal, Santos, Johnston; Bradley, Morley (Jerome 85mins), Thomason (Kachunga 67), Dempsey (Sheehan 73), R Williams (John 73); Nlundulu (Adeboyejo 67), Charles.

Unused: Dixon, MJ Williams.

Yellow cards: Dempsey, Santos.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 8:03pm
    Great start. Barnsley. Phillips wins ball on edge of box, crosses from right and headed behind
  • 8:04pm
    Couple of crosses cleared then Connell wide from distance. Big noise in here.
  • 8:06pm
    4 Bolton have the first shot. A long ball. is brought down. outside the box by Dion Charles whose tame 20-yard effort is easily saved by Isted. That's the long ball over the top for the top scorer Bolton will try a lot.
  • 8:07pm
    5 Connell's ow 25-yard shot easily saved by James Trafford
  • 8:07pm
    Busy start to this game. Barnsley look really pumped up
  • 8:08pm
    6 Bobby Thomas' long throw from the right is. headed on by Andersen but caught by the goalkeeper
  • 8:10pm
    8 Another effort for the visitors. Dan Nlundulu receives a pass from the right, turns in the box and bobbles a 12-yard shot which Isted easily saves
  • 8:11pm
    Bolton have a decent few minutes here. They are being a bit braver on the ball than the first leg
  • 8:13pm
    11 Liam Kitching's shot from outside the box is. easily gathered by Trafford after fine passes by Kane and Connell
  • 8:14pm
    A good game so far then. Four shots on target in first 11 minutes but all easily saved
  • 8:16pm
    Slobodan Tedic down and will get treatment. He is clutching his lower left leg
  • 8:17pm
    This gives both managers a chance for a quick chat with their players while Tedic is seen to. He will carry on
  • 8:18pm
    Cadden concedes a corner on the right. Right wing back Bradley put in loads of space. by crossfield pass
  • 8:18pm
    16Bolton's corner from the right is scrambled half away then cleared b y Kane
  • 8:21pm
    19 A third shot from outside the box is fairly easily. saved by James Trafford. This. time from Herbie Kane after good pressing by theReds made Bobby Thomas won the. ball
  • 8:23pm
    A big chorus of stand u p for Barnsley. Great support form the home fans
  • 8:23pm
    22 Bobby Thomas' long throw from the right is headed out then cleared
  • 8:26pm
    24 Connell free-kick onn the left is poor and easily headed out
  • 8:26pm
    GOAL!
    Liam Kitching opens the scoring!
  • 8:28pm
    Luca Connell takes possibly the worst free-kick of his career then, when he gets it back, swings in one of the best crosses and Kitching powers a fantastic header in
  • 8:29pm
    Players who have scored for Barnsley at Oakwell in the play-offs: Bruce Dyer Sam Winnall Liam Kitching
  • 8:29pm
    Barnsley have been superb when taking the lead this season. They need to be so again
  • 8:30pm
    28 Bolton corner on the right
  • 8:30pm
    29 Kitching does his job at the other end. After some head tennis following a corner, he kicks against Santos and wins a goal kick on the left of the box
  • 8:34pm
    It's gone a bit scrappy since the goal. Stop start with a few free-kicks in the central area
  • 8:35pm
    34 Connell takes a free-kick just inside his half, Thomas heads out down. on the right wing but it's cleared
  • 8:37pm
    36 Thomas' long throw from the right leads to a. series of headers then a free-kick to Bolton after an aerial challenge
  • 8:38pm
    Barnsley on the attack again. Phillips cross from the right punched o ut by Trafford who bumps into a Barnsley man and is now down getting treatment
  • 8:40pm
    It was Santos Trafford crashed into. He's going to carry on
  • 8:41pm
    A good first. 40 minutes for the. Reds. They are ahead, on top and Bolton have barely threatened since the first five minutes. Can they get another before the break?
  • 8:42pm
    41 After a long throw by Tedic, a clever Phillips pass. puts Kitching through on goal but the goalkeeper saves and the flag is up
  • 8:44pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Kyle Dempsey booked for taking out Kane after George Thomason lost the ball to Connell deep in his half.
  • 8:45pm
    44 Phillips' free-kick hits the wall and is cleared
  • 8:46pm
    Bolton on the attack. towards the end of this half. Keep it tight Reds
  • 8:47pm
    Four added minutes this half
  • 8:49pm
    Beautiful pass inside. by Cadden to Kane who tries a through ball but there is no one on the end of it
  • 8:51pm
    HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1, Bolton 0. A good first half for the hosts who lead through Liam Kitching's header
  • 9:08pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 9:10pm
    A lot of noise from the away end again. You'd expect a period of pressure from Bolton now
  • 9:11pm
    Kitching loses the ball in a really dangerous area which leads to Conor Bradley going through and falling down under pressure from Andersen. Hopefully appeals but no penalty.
  • 9:14pm
    Bolton in again down the right. Low Dempsey cross put behind by B Thomas
  • 9:14pm
    51 Bolton corner on the right. Cleared by Phillips at the front post
  • 9:15pm
    Bolton have started this half well like they did the first. Barnsley will look to weather the storm again
  • 9:16pm
    53 Aaron Morley shoots from about 25 yards and it curls well well wide
  • 9:18pm
    Bolton having lots of the ball and finding more gaps n the Reds half so far. But Barnsley holding firm. Kane does some good defending to track a. runner into the box, win the ball and clear
  • 9:18pm
    Bolton having lots of the ball and finding more gaps n the Reds half so far. But Barnsley holding firm. Kane does some good defending to track a. runner into the box, win the ball and clear
  • 9:18pm
    Bolton having lots of the ball and finding more gaps n the Reds half so far. But Barnsley holding firm. Kane does some good defending to track a. runner into the box, win the ball and clear
  • 9:19pm
    George Thomason sees a shot blocked in the box after a good move on the right
  • 9:20pm
    Free-kick by Morley easily caught by Isted
  • 9:20pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Devante Cole was the first Barnsley. man in the book for a late challenge
  • 9:23pm
    Barnsley close down the Bolton goalkeeper and defender really well and force a throw in deep in the. Bolton half. The crowd go wld. Great atmosphere
  • 9:25pm
    62 Phillips corner on the right punched out by the goalkeeper and a free-kick given for foul by Kitching I think
  • 9:25pm
    A moving tribute to ill staff member Beth Sefton with phone lights turned on around the home stands
  • 9:26pm
    More good Reds pressing forces another throw deep in Bolton territory. Barnsley are starting to settle in this second half
  • 9:26pm
    Thomas' long throw from the left leads to a shot by Phillips which is deflected wide for a. corner
  • 9:27pm
    65 Connell's left wing corner is headed out
  • 9:27pm
    James Norwood is coming on for Tedic
  • 9:29pm
    Wow. Phillips brilliantly dinks the ball over a defender's foot on the edge of the box and volleys but it clips the top of the bar.
  • 9:30pm
    Ex-Red Victor Adeboyejo on for Dan Nlundulu
  • 9:31pm
    Also Kachunga on for Thomason
  • 9:34pm
    Barnsley are definitely getting forward more now. They do seem to have weathered another Bolton storm for now
  • 9:35pm
    73 Thomas' long throw from the right is gathered by the goalkeeper
  • 9:35pm
    Bolton now bring on Josh Sheehan for Kyle Dempsey
  • 9:36pm
    Also ex-Red Declan John on for Randell Williams
  • 9:37pm
    Cole has a brilliant chance to put Kane through on goal but does not see. him as he doesn't full open his body up. Instead he runs to the right of the box and shoots wide of the bottom right corner
  • 9:40pm
    Indirect free-kick in the box for passback by Andersen. to Isted. It is played to Morley who thumps over
  • 9:43pm
    Into the last ten minutes now. Bolton having another period of pressure as you would expect
  • 9:43pm
    Might Barnsley throw on Watters or Thomas for some pace on the counter
  • 9:44pm
    YELLOW CARD
    Ricardo Santos. booked for pushing down Norwood as he led a breakaway
  • 9:45pm
    Cadden's free-kick from the left headed out and free-kick given to Bolton anyway
  • 9:45pm
    Benson and Russell coming on
  • 9:46pm
    Attendance: 16,274 (2181 away)
  • 9:46pm
    Connell comes off for Barnsley
  • 9:47pm
    And Phillips
  • 9:48pm
    Bolton throw on veteran striker Cameron Jerome for midfielder Morley
  • 9:49pm
    Less than four minutes remaining. Barnsley so close to Wembley
  • 9:49pm
    This second half has been a real battle but Bolton haven't had any real clear cut chances
  • 9:49pm
    Luke Thomas replaces Cole in the. last change of the night
  • 9:52pm
    Mads Andersen named man of the match over PA system and the crowd sing his name. One of many heroes tonight. Can they finish it off?
  • 9:54pm
    Six added minutes
  • 9:54pm
    Six added minutes
  • 9:55pm
    Very loud home fans. Singing their team to the line
  • 9:57pm
    Almost four of the six added minutes gone. No Bolton chances or really attacks so far in added period
  • 9:58pm
    After a great piece of control and pass by Norwood, Luke Thomas wins a free-kick on the left
  • 9:58pm
    'We are going up' sing the home fans
  • 9:58pm
    45. seconds left
  • 9:58pm
    'Sheffield Wednesday, we're coming for you' is n ow the chant
  • 9:59pm
    Jordan Williams. leads a counter attack and shoots just wide
  • 10:00pm
    FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1, Bolton 0. The Reds will face Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off final