Barnsley 2-2 Bolton Wanderers: Randell Williams' 98th minute equaliser rescues point for the Trotters.

Ian Evatt's week improved tenfold as Randell Williams struck deep into stoppage time, to send Wanderers back into the automatic promotion places.

If Evatt and his side had been the feeling the heat after criticism for his sides performances against Wigan and Blackpool, the Trotters manager and players week certainly ended a whole lot better.

Williams pounced on the rebound of Josh Sheehan's saved penalty in the 98th minute to seal the comeback of all comebacks, and keep Wanderers at the head of the chasing pack.

JUBILATION: Randell Williams secured Wanderers a point in South Yorkshire

With Portsmouth and derby both not playing, its was a chance for either of last years playoff semi-finalists to climb into second place with a win enough to prise derby from their position.

With 1,900 Trotters fans making the journey to South Yorkshire to take on the Neill Collins Reds', the game and atmosphere was aligned for a tasty affair.

Wanderers made one change with Cumbrian Kyle Dempsey coming into the side with Brentford loanee Paris Maghoma making way.

The Reds made two changes with inform John McAtee returning from injury, Sam Cosgrove making way in his place. Nicky Cadden the other change for Neill Collins Tykes.

The game started off slow with neither side creating any clear cut chances, with Bolton struggling to play out through Barnsley's high press.

With Wanderers trying to keep the ball, it always felt like the game would be sprung into life by a defensive error, and as the clock rolled into the 25th minute we had lift off.

Coleman played the ball into Thomason as he dropped deep to receive the pass, the pressure of De Gevigeny behind proved too much as Thomason cannoned the ball against the Tykes centre half's leg and straight into McAtee's path.

The on-loan forward made no mistake slotting the ball calmly past a helpless Joel Coleman to send the Reds into a one goal lead and his own Acrobatic celebration one to be admired.

With Wanderers on the back foot, they almost responded straight away. Gethin Jones had a shot saved at close range from Player of the Match Liam Roberts, before the ball somehow missing the onrushing Collins in the aftermath.

George Thomason picked up an 17th yellow card of the season in all competitions for a foul on the edge of his own area. The resulting free kick from Connell was comfortably held by Coleman.

The half ended much like it started with Bolton struggling to implement their philosophy fully on the game, with the Reds winning battles all over the park.

With Barnsley leading at half time, that would bring them level on points with Bolton with a game in hand. Bursting the automatic promotion race wide open.

The second half started in disastrous fashion, with a corner failing to be cleared twice by Wanderers defenders. The ball fell to Centre-half Donovan Pines on the penalty spot, before firing the ball in off the crossbar to double the Tyke's advantage.

Amid the game threatening to get away from the Whites, an unfortunate injury to Josh Dacres-Cogley shifted the momentum heavily in Wanderers favour.

Gethin Jones moved to right wingback and Jack Iredale coming on at centre-half. The change freed up Jones into his natural position and begin to influence the game high in Barnsley territory.

The Trotters were firmly on top as, George Thomason produced Bolton's best effort of the day as he latched onto a Collins knock on to force Liam Roberts into a smart save from close range.

With the Tyke's strikers fatiguing and no activity evident on the bench, the Reds press began to fall apart and create pockets for Wanderers playmakers to work in.

This was evident as McAtee committed a lazy foul on Josh Sheehan in the 62nd minute. The Welsh international played a perfect short free kick into the path of Thomason.

The Wanderers number four subsequently slipped in Collins down the right hand side before he unleashed a inch-perfect first time ball, into the path of Victor Adeboyejo who made no mistake from two yards out.

It was the Nigerian's 10th goal of the season, making it back-to-back double figures scored for Wanderers number 14. Game on.

With Barnsley tiring; Ian Evatt smelt blood and brought on last weeks MOM Paris Maghoma for Kyle Dempsey to add some flair to the final third.

Evatt then opted to rotate both off this forward men; bringing off Collins and Adeboyejo for Bodvarsson and Jerome with the game edging closer to its climax.

The two almost completed the comeback minutes later as Jerome swivelled past his man before squaring a ball across the face of goal to the Icelandic international who saw his first time shot cannon back off the post.

Maghoma had two follow up efforts blocked heroically as Barnsley defenders defended for their lives, and potentially place in the promotion race.

With a party atmosphere slowing brewing in the 'Ponty end' there was a sense Wanderers would get one more chance as the fourth official indicated there would be 8 minutes of added time.

Randell Williams replaced Nathaniel Ogbeta in Wanderers final change of the evening as Ian Evatt riled up the cavalry in a last chance saloon scenario.

George Thomason slipped through Paris Maghoma as the Trotters got there chance. The loanee jinked past two before seeing his attempt under the keeper saved by Roberts.

With a feeling amongst the travelling fans that today wouldn't be Wanderers day; a long Jack Iredale ball into the area was cleared for a corner.

As the clock rolled into the 98th minute, the ball evaded everyone and was chased down by Wanderers captain who played a clever reverse pass to George Thomason.

The Wanderers midfielder floated a ball towards Jerome at the back post who was wrestled to the ground by Ex-wanderers player Josh Earl.

With cries of a penalty from the Wanderers players and fans, referee James Bell pointed to the penalty spot to send the travelling fans into a frenzy.

Due to regular penalty takers Aaron Morley and Dion Charles unavailable; Josh Sheehan took the ball and placed it on the spot.

A silence dispersed over Oakwell as the Welsh international stood 12 yards and a goalkeeper away from the biggest moment potentially in Ian Evatt's tenure.

The referee blew his whistle and after a deep breath Sheehan saw his penalty saved by Liam Roberts.

The party atmosphere was well and truly activated around Oakwell as for four seconds the Tykes had gone level on points with the Trotters.

But Randell Williams had other ideas as he ran through unmarked to slot home the rebound to send the away fans crazy and Wanderers into the top two.

With Bolton still to face Portsmouth, Derby, Peterborough and Stevenage. The rescued point here could be defining in Wanderers quest for promotion.

Barnsley 2 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

McAtee 25' Adeboyejo 62'

Pines 47' Williams 90+8'

Attendance: 14,808 (1,900 Away)

Referee: James Bell

Wanderers: Coleman, Toal, Santos, Jones, Dacres-Cogley (Iredale 51), Ogbeta (Williams 70), Sheehan, Thomason, Dempsey (Maghoma 70), Collins (Jerome 79), Adeboyejo (Bodvarsson 79). Substitutes not used: Morley, Forrester

Barnsley: Roberts, Pines, De Gevigeny, Connell, Cadden (O'Keefe 68), Kane, Phillips (Cotter 84), Williams, McAtee (Grant 68), Cole (Cosgrove 90). Substitues not used: Killip, McCart, Russell