FOR the first time this season and just 11 weeks from its climax, Argyle and Barnsley finally played for points at Oakwell.
After two previous efforts to get the reverse fixture played and both falling victim to the weather - an understatement with regards November's attempt to finish the game, with Home Park virtually flooded leaving little Alan Judge treading water on the wing.
And talking of the wing, might I introduce my subject for the afternoon, Craig Noone. For a variety of reasons, Nooney was making his first Argyle start in 11 months - there's that number again… Someone put a fiver on Arnie to get the winner.
A positive loan spell up the road at they-who-must-not-be-named did not go unnoticed, and the ex-roofer has since forced his way back into first-team contention.
Paul Connolly's heir to the throne as Plymouth's favourite Scouser has caught the eye with some typically exciting cameos off the bench, none more so than in Tuesday night's grand injustice at the Madejski.
An uneventful start to the game barring a miss of embarrassing proportions from the hosts' left-winger Emil Halfredsson meant no early party pieces for Noone, who was forced to wait until the 25th minute to beat his first red shirt of the day.
Those instantly recognisable quick feet helping to bail us out from Argyle territory when surely others would have opted for boot through ball. It was followed up by a neat pass to the overlapping Barker - the first glimpse of the potential behind the new-look left-side.
It was proving a frustrating afterNoone (sorry) for Craig, his talent still evident in possession - but with Argyle struggling for much of the above, opportunities to create were few and far between.
Argyle's first corner was Nooney's next contribution, albeit a particularly unthreatening one, and when Hugo Colace gave Barnsley the lead just shy of the interval, it was hardly against the run of play. Green waves of attack weren't particularly tidal-like throughout the first half.
Noone's day didn't get an awful lot easier after the break, and it was hardly a surprise when he was hauled off 10 minutes into the second half. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was probably the least memorable performance of his fledging career. He is a winger I suppose, and most are hot and cold at the best of times.
Time to turn my attention to Nooney's replacement. I'll give you a clue: he's becoming an Argyle debutant nearly two years after first boarding the Green ship - step forward number 36, Yala Bolasie.
Without knowing too much about Yala, other than the fact he's exceptionally quick and has spent his career in England on loan at Rushden & Diamonds and Barnet, his Pilgrim bow was to make exciting viewing.
In fact, Yala nearly put himself straight into the Argyle record books with his first touch in a green, well white, shirt - his powerful header straight down the throat of Luke Steele.
Bolasie was making a notable contribution, akin to Noone at Coventry all over again. Beating players for fun and confidence exuding from his every stride down the left wing, he was something else.
Soon enough, Bolasie's impact was spreading, and captain Fletcher was at it again with his second equaliser in as many games before Mr Mackie goes and turns it on its head completely. Is this a dream?
Talking of dreams, Bolasie's playing like one out there. The Englishman plucked out of Malta two summers ago is having an unbelievable impact. For my sins I must confess I don't know an awful lot about the Barnsley right-back Kieran Trippier, but I'm pretty sure he's never met anyone quite like Yala before. The explosive pace and silky smooth dribbling would be something more associated with one of the home side's Brazilian or Portuguese imports, but he really is English. And he's playing for Argyle.
Soon enough I'm waiting to wake up in a hot sweat. It's 3-1 and Fallon's lobbed Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal from 35 yards. Seriously.
Unfortunately it's all getting too much for young Yala. He makes a scything challenge deep in Barnsley territory and is fortunate to escape with a booking, before he slips under the nose of the gaffer on another meandering dribble in front of the dugout, much to the amusement of pretty much everyone inside Oakwell - even the irate locals.
So three priceless points for Argyle, and a new star is born on the wing.
Let's just hope this is a season-defining day and we fall back in love with winning on Valentine's weekend.
Mark Perrow
