Oli McBurnie's last-gasp equaliser salvages a point for the Reds after Bolton's second half turnaround.
It was spoils shared this afternoon at Oakwell in a game the Reds were in control of until a dramatic second half swing turned the game on its head.
Barnsley led at the break thanks to Gary Gardner's latest thunderbolt before Bolton levelled up with a hotly-disputed penalty tucked home by Adam Le Fondre. Wanderers quickly took the lead when Noone smashed into an unguarded net following a defensive mixup, but McBurnie had the final say, nodding home from close range in added time.
José Morais brought George Moncur back into the starting lineup after he'd missed out at Ipswich on Tuesday through illness, Lloyd Isgrove the man dropping to the bench.
The game began in a very scrappy and nervy fashion, with our visitors having the best of the early sparring, forcing a couple of corners but not managing to create any real clear chances.
But it was the Reds who took the lead on 22 minutes, when number 22 Gardner unleashed an effort from just inside the box that flew into the top left-hand corner, following a goalmouth scramble and clever play by McBurnie.
That settled Barnsley, and they were beginning to play around Bolton with ease, Gardner, Brad Potts and George Moncur dominant in midfield.
McBurnie danced his way across the box before half time before curling an effort inches wide of the far post, as Morais' men went in at the break in good spirits, leading 1-0.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Bolton
There was a change during the interval for both sides with Ethan Pinnock replacing Adam Jackson who'd picked up a knock first half. Will Buckley came on for Reece Burke as the away side changed system in search of a way back into the match.
A running second half theme was the stop-start nature of it, with referee Mike Jones constantly finding reasons to blow his whistle, with the Reds in particular punished with numerous free-kicks.
54 minutes in and David Wheater rose highest in the centre of the box from a Bolton corner and powered a header towards goal only to see Andy Yiadom on the line to head clear.
The Reds tried to counter at pace but McBurnie was ragged to the floor on halfway which saw Sammy Ameobi enter the referee's notebook.
Gary Gardner joined Kieffer Moore in Jones' book, yellow carded for a slight coming together on the touchline with Darren Pratley.
On the hour mark the referee was again in the spotlight, as Adam Hammill put in a terrific cross which Moore was about to nod towards goal, six yards out before Mark Beevers pole-axed him. The referee waved play on, much to the disbelief of everyone of a Reds persuasion.
With 20 minutes remaining, Moore again met a Hammill cross but saw his header fly just over the Bolton crossbar.
Craig Noone then came on for Wanderers, with Mark Little making way.
Potts had to be replaced just afterwards, he picked up a knock and on in his place came Tom Bradshaw.
Soon after, both Moncur and McBurnie were denied in the box by Trotters 'keeper Ben Alnwick as the Reds looked to grab the killer second goal.
With 10 minutes remaining, referee Jones awarded Bolton a penalty, and we still aren't sure why.
Before that was taken, Darren Pratley appeared to headbutt McBurnie, but after a delay of two minutes, the referee booked both men and up stepped Le Fondre who sent Adam Davies the wrong way to level the match at 1-1.
Just three minutes later and it was 2-1 to the away side when after the Reds failed to deal with a lofted Ameobi cross, Noone was on hand to smash home from inside the box.
As we entered the first minute of five for injuries, Conor Mahoney replaced Zeki Fryers.
And there was one last twist, as an Hammill cross eventually found its way to McBurnie via Moore, and the Scottish international striker nodded home to give the Reds a point at the death!
FULL TIME: Barnsley 2-2 Bolton
Reds: Davies, Yiadom, Jackson (Pinnock 45), Fryers (Mahoney 90), Potts (Bradshaw 72), Gardner, Moncur, McBurnie, Moore, Hammill.
Unused: Walton, Cavaré, Hedges, Isgrove.
