Argyle 1
Sawyer 12
Barnsley 2
Hammill 34
Campbell-Ryce 48
ARGYLE ended a difficult season at Home Park with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-haunted Barnsley.
Gary Sawyer's early header was the perfect start for the Greens and Norwich City, who needed a win at Charlton and Argyle to beat Barnsley to retain their Championship status.
Barnsley only required a point at Home Park to stay up and Adam Hammill did half the job with a well-taken equaliser on 34 minutes. The visitors completed victory three minutes after half-time when Jamal Campbell-Ryce converted a clever pass by Jon Macken. It was an outcome that sent Norwich down to League One.
Paul Sturrock made just one change to the side that effectively secured Argyle's place in the Championship next season with a 0-0 draw at QPR last weekend.
The excellent Jamie Mackie was given a deserved rest after a season of exertions, allowing Cameroon international Rudi Douala to make his first start for the Pilgrims. The stage was set for the striker, who has impressed for the reserves, to stake a claim for a long-term deal at Home Park.
Mackie took his place on a bench shorn of goalkeeping cover, with Lloyd Saxton dropping out of the squad. Winger Craig Noone took his seat, while George Donnelly was preferred to former Barnsley forward Rory Fallon as the attacking back-up.
Between the sticks for Argyle, as always, was the wonderful Romain Larrieu, crowned as the club's Player of the Season prior to kick-off. He was joined for the ceremony by the injured Craig Cathcart, the winner of the Young Player of the Season award.
Barnsley also made just one change to their side after a battling 1-1 draw with Champions Wolverhampton Wanderers eight days ago.
Inspirational captain Stephen Foster returned to the heart of the Barnsley defence at the expense of Brazilian Dennis Souza, who dropped out of the squad altogether.
The Barn Park end was a sea of red, as the visiting Barnsley supporters nervously awaited an afternoon that would determine their Championship fate. The opening five minutes were a concern for the anxious Tykes, with Argyle's purposeful start immediately dispelling any hopes that the Greens were already thinking of the beach.
Douala tested Luke Steele's awareness with an ambitious drive from distance that was safely gobbled up by the visiting keeper, while, at the other end, Campbell-Ryce drifted a 25-yard curler over Larrieu's crossbar.
Barnsley were given a couple of warnings of Argyle's threat from set-pieces and the incisive delivery of Paul Gallagher. It was a warning they failed to heed.
On 12 minutes, Gallagher whipped in another inviting corner to the near post. Sawyer's run was unchecked and he glanced a delightful header beyond the stranded Steele and into the top corner of the net.
Campbell-Ryce was the obvious danger to the Pilgrims. Dancing inside from the left-flank gave Argyle right-back David Gray the age-old 'should I stay or should I go' conundrum.
The decision to stay on 15 minutes allowed the lively winger to exchange passes with Brazilian Anderson De Silva before feeding Daniel Bogdanovic in the left channel, but his smart shot on the turn was straight down Larrieu's throat.
News then filtered through from the Valley that Norwich were 1-0 down at Charlton in the game the Canaries had to win to stand any chance of avoiding the drop, and sending Barnsley down to League One.
It was a massive relief for the Tykes, who were taking a roasting in the Westcountry sun. A tremendous burst of pace from Douala gave skipper Karl Duguid space on the left-wing to whip in a low cross for the back-post run of Alan Judge.
The young Irishman met the ball on the half-volley with a thunderous drive that almost broke Steele's crossbar. First impressions were that Steele got a touch on the shot, making it a sensational, and potentially season-rescuing, save.
Ashley Barnes and Barnsley defender Robert Kozluk scuffled their way to the rebound, but Steele pounced on the loose ball with courage befitting his side's desperate situation.
Moments later, the Barnsley end erupted. Charlton were 2-0 up and, as it stood, Norwich had wasted their chance to stay up.
The afternoon soon got drastically worse for the doomed Canaries. They conceded a third at the Valley, and Barnsley's Hammill, on loan from Liverpool, equalised at Home Park.
It was a frustratingly simple goal from an Argyle perspective. A long ball forward was headed down by Macken and Hammill had time to plant his shot in the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.
The relief was evident, both in the Barn Park and on the pitch, and Hugo Colace's cheeky curler after another neat lay-off by Macken was only a fraction away from turning relief into unbridled delight.
Norwich gave themselves hope by pulling a goal back just before half-time, but Bryan Gunn's embattled team would need three more after the break, and even then, their fate was in Argyle's hands.
Unfortunately for Norwich, Barnsley were the side in the ascendancy at Home Park, and the visitors took the lead within three minutes of the restart.
Macken showed great strength to hold off the challenge of Marcel Seip in the box, and his reverse pass sneaked through the legs of Barker for Campbell-Ryce, who slotted the ball home with ease.
Luggy responded by withdrawing Douala for Mackie. Argyle were showing signs of wilting in the sunshine, but Mackie, as ever, was the main man when it comes to lifting Green spirits. He was soon joined in that cause by Noone, who replaced the tiring Barnes. Noone took residence on the left-wing, allowing Paul Gallagher to join Mackie in attack.
Mackie's injection of enthusiasm was matched by Judge, but even their combined efforts were not enough for the Greens. Barnsley were playing the more incisive football and Argyle's attacking forays smacked more of hope than genuine belief.
Judge was given the standing ovation his performances have merited when he was replaced by Donnelly with ten minutes. The little Irishman has been absolutely terrific for Argyle during his loan spell from Blackburn Rovers.
Campbell-Ryce floated another dangerous shot narrowly wide before the Pilgrims finally burst back into life after an incisive run down the left by Mackie, and his low ball into the box was fired back across goal by the onrushing Noone.
Substitute Donnelly then came close, spinning well in the box before firing narrowly over. Gallagher completed the shooting with a sliced effort in injury time.
Argyle had done their work over recent weeks and Barnsley had done the job at Home Park. Well done to both sides and hard luck to Norwich, who ended up 4-2 losers at Charlton.
Have a great summer.
Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Romain Larrieu; 33 David Gray, 19 Marcel Seip, 15 Chris Barker, 18 Gary Sawyer; 23 Alan Judge (35 George Donnelly 80), 2 Karl Duguid (capt), 28 Carl Fletcher, 11 Paul Gallagher; 24 Ashley Barnes (17 Craig Noone 59), 37 Rudi Douala (25 Jamie Mackie 50).
Substitutes: 5 Krisztián Timár, 6 Chris Clark.
Booked:
Barnsley (4-4-2): 17 Luke Steele; 2 Bobby Hassell, 4 Darren Moore, 6 Stephen Foster (capt), 3 Robert Kozluk; 8 Adam Hamill (25 Martin Devaney 87), 5 Hugo Colace, 15 Anderson De Silva, 20 Jamal Campbell-Ryce; 10 Daniel Bogdanovic (11 Mounir El Haimour 90), 21 Jonathan Macken (27 Michael Mifsud 83).
Substitutes: 1 Heinz Muller (gk), 12 Andranik.
Booked:
Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).
Attendance: 14,529 (1,686 away).
