Barnsley 1-3 Bolton: Dion Charles’ first-leg double helps Wanderers take control of League One play-off semi-final as Randell Williams scores at the death to leave Tykes with a mountain to climb

Back from the dead, Barnsley buried himself again.

Two goals from Dion Charles had Bolton fans singing about Wembley and the Championship, only for Sam Cosgrove to give Barnsley real hope for the second leg.

Suddenly Bolton were hanging on grimly, but they broke away to force a deep corner in added time.

Somehow Randell Williams delivered an inswinger that evaded absolutely everyone in the area and flew straight away. The reaction was first perplexity, then Lancastrian jubilation.

So it’s Ian Evatt’s side who start with a considerable advantage in the return on Tuesday evening – but they needed to win twice.

Charles scored from the penalty spot to give the visitors a 2-0 lead in the play-off semi-final.

Barnsley pulled one back but Randell Williams restored the two-goal advantage at the death

At two, thoughts must have drifted to which north London hotels to book, only for Cosgrove to provide yet another reminder to always expect the unexpected in the play-offs.

The mood inside Oakwell had completely collapsed but after Williams’ extraordinary intervention, it was Bolton who should emerge.

Both teams needed a restart before the play-offs after disappointing finishes to the regular season.

Although Bolton remained in contention for automatic promotion until the final day, clinging to Derby’s tails, just one win from their last four smacked of a certain resignation.

It was nothing for Barnsley, however, whose torrid run of just two wins in their last 12 games saw their play-off chances severely damaged before they crossed the finish line.

Amid all this, the Tykes got rid of coach Neil Collins and had hoped to appoint a successor – Austrian Dominik Thalhammer, who was refused a work permit – before this one.

Instead, Martin Devaney remained in caretaker charge and although there were fights in the first half over the hosts, they struggled to get things going.

Adam Phillips earned an early booking for a meaty tackle on Dion Charles, returning but without penalty when Josh Dacres-Cogley tackled Nicky Cadden.

This led to banter between Yorkshire and Lancashire from the rowdy Oakwell crowd, but Barnsley just couldn’t get going.

Charles (center) opened the scoring midway through the first half of the first leg.

Charles celebrates after scoring his second goal of the match shortly after halftime

Bolton weren’t much better early on with keeper Nathan Baxter given the rush of his slow goal kicks and when he finally got there some sailed straight over.

But it was all deceptive and they took the lead midway through with a lovely slick move and an emphatic finish from Charles for his 18th of the campaign.

Ricardo Santos played out of defense against Dacres-Cogley, who slipped a pass over the line to Maghoma. It was a throw-in all the way as Maghoma, on loan from Brentford, played a one-two with Aaron Collins before delivering onto a plate for Charles.

With the tail up, Bolton almost made it two when Maghoma, found in plenty of space by George Thomason, curled an effort just over.

Wanderers left Barnsley with a mountain to climb as they scored from a corner in added time

Barnsley failed to have a shot on target in the first half, coming closest when Phillips curled in from 20 yards. He later fired again from a distance.

The hosts needed to improve considerably, but they shot themselves in the foot just minutes into the second half.

Jordan Williams played the ball back to goalkeeper Liam Roberts but didn’t get enough power, allowing Josh Sheehan to intervene. He was brought down and Finnie didn’t hesitate to signal for a penalty.

Roberts, eager to atone, got a strong hand on Charles’ kick, but he was hit with such force that the ball still went in.

Maghoma almost made it three points as Bolton took complete control, his shot diverted over the bar by Cadden. The ball found the net from the corner only before the whistle blew for a foul.

But out of nowhere Barnsley gave themselves a lifeline when Cosgrove found himself in far too much space inside the Bolton box to finish past Baxter.

Eoin Toal left him to mark Phillips, while his compatriot Conor Grant made the pass.

Now it was all Barnsley, Baxter making a superb save to keep out Phillips’ header before coming down to save the same man’s shot in added time.

But at the other end it took a stifling save from Roberts to deny Kyle Dempsey as he sprinted clear.

It was directly from this corner that Williams strengthened Bolton’s position in the tie.