BARNSLEY 3 (Howard 31, Devaney 33, Lee (OG) 67)
WATFORD 2 (Shittu 36, 45)

BARNSLEY came of age with a stunning victory over Watford at Oakwell as Simon Davey's side took the Hornets' best and roared back with an outstanding second half display.

Davey made two changes following defeat at Wolves and the international break with returning loan star Anderson De Silva taking his place back in the side. Sam Togwell missed out.

Barnsley started the game strongly with Martin Devaney whipping in a fine cross on two minutes for Jon Macken to attack but the striker glanced his header just wide of the far post with Richard Lee stranded.

At the other end Jordan Stewart was give far too much space from a corner on five minutes but the defender blazed his volley high over the bar. Marlon King then crashed a shot against Stephen Foster a minute later after the Hornets forced yet another early corner.

Watford's direct play again forced the Reds back on eight minutes as Lee Williamson managed to pounce on a loose ball but sent his shot well over Heinz Muller's bar.

The Hornets were well on top and should have been in front on ten minutes had Darius Henderson not shanked his shot from 12 yards. King then went even closer a minute later as he pounced onto Danny Shittu's header inside the six yard box but somehow managed to nod the ball over the bar.

Shittu then hammered a free kick over the bar on 15 minutes after Mahon had bought a cheap free kick 30 yards from goal by running into Brian Howard. King showed great composure and control on 19 minutes to juggle the ball away from Macken but his wild volley was never going to trouble Muller.

Barnsley broke with purpose and Devaney had the better of his marker a minute later but saw his shot well blocked away. Macken then turned provider on 20 minutes as he dinked in a cross from the right hand side but Howard could not get enough on his header to trouble Lee.

Howard picked up his fifth caution of the season after a free-for-all on the slippery surface on 26 minutes. Howard's challenge was a little strong but no stronger than Williamson's or Mahon's but referee Mike Pike reacted to the Watford's players' and showed a yellow card.

The visitors had the benefit of yet another decision on 27 minutes as Henderson managed to take advantage and break in the area but shot wastefully over the bar. Henderson got in again on 28 minutes as King played the ball into the area after hauling back Lewin Nyatanga on the byline but the striker again could not find the target.

Barnsley grabbed the lead on 31 minutes as Watford made a complete mess of Dominik Werling's free kick. The ball broke loose and Howard reacted quickst to smash it back into the roof of the net.

Watford threw everything at the Reds and their punishing, physical and strong brand of football almost paid off on 32 minutes as Williamson brought a fine save from Muller with a volley from the edge of the area.

Ex-Hornet Devaney showed Williamson how to strike a ball just a minute later as he found a yard of space at the back post to attack Jamal Campbell-Ryce's cross and hammered it past Lee from 18 yards.

Steven Kabba's ridiculous dive conned Campbell-Ryce into the book on 36 minutes as he threw himself to the ground. The caution will keep the winger out of next week's trip to Ipswich.

Kabba's got the perfect reward for his dive as from he took the free kick himself and Shittu was able to rise highest and nod the ball past Muller from six yards out.

Watford got themselves back level in stoppage time as the Reds defence were caught out by Tommy Smith's cross from the right. Shittu came powering in and planted his header into the back of the net.

The Hornets started the second half strongly and King almost put them in front on 47 minutes as he turned well but was denied by Souza's fine challenge. Kabba then send a shot against Foster and away.

Barnsley broke quickly and Devaney got in on goal again on 49 minutes but lashed his shot wide of the post with only Lee to beat when he really should have scored.

King combined well with Kabba on 51 minutes as the pair broke into the Reds area but Muller was in the right place to save. Muller had to be at his best again a minute later as Smith raced past Howard but shot straight at the big German keeper.

Devaney again got the better of the Watford defence on 55 minutes but could not find a way through. Istvan Ferenczi and De Silva went close in the scramble that followed.

Lee had to be at his very, very best to keep out Macken's header on 56 minutes as the striker rose to meet Werling's cross but the Hornets' keeper managed to keep the ball out of the net. Macken almost got the ball down to Ferenczi on 58 minutes but again Lee was in the right place to save.

Ferenczi again could have been more alert on 63 minutes as Campbell-Ryce's cross fizzed in from the right but the big Hungarian could not react in time to divert the ball past Lee.

Ferenczi then produced one of the worst misses Oakwell has even seen on 64 minutes as he found himself free to tap Campbell-Ryce's cross into an open goal but somehow put his shot over the bar from four yards.

Barnsley got their third goal courtesy of a massive slice of good fortune from the referee after Nyatanga challenged Lee for De Silva's free kick. The referee gave nothing and the pair watched as the ball bounced over the line off the Hornets keeper.

Campbell-Ryce was again the architect on 73 minutes as he did wonderfully well to find Macken but the striker shot wide of the target. Ferenczi thought he had added a fourth on 75 minutes as he glanced Devaney's corner towards the top corner but his header smashed against Shittu and flew a foot wide.

Devaney then brought a fine save from Lee a minute later after letting fly from the left hand side but his shot was a little too close to the Watford keeper.

Henderson was finally shown a yellow card on 82 minutes after his frustrations got the better of him and he hammered Foster in the area.

Barnsley had the better of Lee again on 86 minutes as Macken went close from Devaney's corner but the Hornets' keeper was all over the place once more.

Watford should have had a penalty on 89 minutes as King was manhandled to the ground by Souza but the referee gave nothing much to the amazement of the Hornets' players and staff.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling, Campbell-Ryce (McCann 86), De Silva, Howard, Devaney, Macken, Ferenczi.
Subs: Reid, Togwell, Odejayi, Christensen.

WATFORD: Lee, Stewart, Shittu, Mahon (Francis 70), King, Henderson, Doyley, Williamson, Kabba, Smith, Mariappa (Ainsworth 79).
Subs: Jackson, Priskin, Ellington.