Football / FA Cup: Archdeacon's intervention

Barnsley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Leicester City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

(aet; Barnsley win 5-4 on pens)

LEICESTER were sailing home into a fourth-round FA Cup tie, courtesy of a touch of class from 18-year-old Julian Joachim, when their goalkeeper Kevin Poole was hurt in the 85th minute, diving at Andy Rammell's feet.

City then had to protect a virtually one-legged goalkeeper through extra time, during which he made one save, falling on a shot just in reach, but they could not save him from the denouement: the penalty shoot-out.

Poole, hobbling, still managed to turn Neil Redfearn's shot around the post but City lost a visit from West Ham when Gary Mills and Lee Philpott failed with their penalties.

So a night of frantic football ended in high drama watched by more than 15,000, many Leicester supporters arriving late enough to delay the kick-off by 10 minutes and some were still drifting in near the interval. A strong wind, an intermittent burst of heavy rain militated against good football but Oakwell's glossy new East Stand, due to be opened in March, was a symmetrical pleasure.

Barnsley, with the wind, were all bustle, so Leicester's goal, on 30 minutes, came as a surprise. A Barnsley free-kick was headed out, City captured the ball and sent Joachim, who is still young enough to be asked to make the manager's tea, zooming away down the right. As he cut in, at speed, Barnsley backed off, expecting a pass, but he confounded them and Lee Butler with a superbly struck cross-shot from 22 yards, the ball flying high into the net.

By three-quarter time the match appeared over. Leicester's lead gave them assurance to play their best football of the match, while Barnsley, against the wind, seemed to be losing their zest. They sent on John Pearson as an extra attacker, but City were coping admirably until five minutes from time Poole threw himself at Rammell's feet and needed extensive treatment.

He returned, limping, and five minutes later Owen Archdeacon, 35 yards out, put a rifling, sniper's shot past him. In extra time Leicester knew they had to avoid the shoot-out. With both substitutes on they summoned enough energy to put Barnsley under sustained pressure, but Butler made two fine saves as the Oakwell crowd, resigned to defeat minutes earlier, sensed that the tie was turning.

Once the shoot-out began, the result seemed inevitable, but Poole by saving one, and Leicester by having one shot saved and pulling another wide, had in the end no one to blame but themselves. In consolation, it has to be said that they did look to be their seven League places better than Barnsley.

Barnsley: Butler; Robinson, Fleming (Pearson, 62), Bishop, Taggart, O'Connell, Biggins, Rammell (Bullimore, 86), Currie, Redfearn, Archdeacon.

Leicester City: Poole; Mills, Whitlow, Smith, Walsh, Hill, Oldfield, Thompson, Joachim, Lowe, Philpott. Substitutes not used: Ormondroyd, Gibson.

Referee: G Peck (Kendall).