Goal Difference is a fairly modern invention only coming into operation in 1976/77, before this teams that finished level on points were seperated using a system called Goal Average (Goals Scored divided by Goals Conceded). This method would come to the fore for Forest as they approached the end of the 1937/38 season. As the clubs entered the final day of the season Forest were only out of the relegation zone on Goal Average with 0.776 compared with Barnsley’s 0.774.

As luck would have it the final day fixture saw Forest scheduled to visit Oakwell to visit relegation rivals Barnsley for what would effectively be a winner takes all game with Barnsley hoping that home advantage would prove crucial for the critical game as Forest were desperate not to drop outside the top two divisions for the first time in their history.

Forest started the game better and had already had chances for Dave ‘Boy’ Martin and Oswald Burgin before Barnsley had their first chance when Logan’s shot was saved by Forest keeper Percy Ashton. Then after 26 minutes Forest took the lead when Martin rocketed a shot home after good work from Betts and Burgin.

This goal forced Barnsley to adopt a more attacking approach and ten minutes before the end of the first half a speculative shot from 30 yards by Asquith bounced up on the bumpy pitch out of the reach of Forest keeper Ashton.

The start of the second half saw both teams have chances but it was Barnsley who would capitalise first when on the hour an horrendous mistake by Forest keeper Ashton let a shot from Barlow slip through his hands to put the Yorkshire side in front for the first time in the match, a scoreline if it stayed the same would see Forest relegated instead of Barnsley.

There were further problems for Forest when they were reduced to ten men when Bill Baxter suffered an injury that forced him to play no further part in the game.

Then with time rapidly running out a Forest shot by Reg Trim was saved by Barnsley keeper Binns, who was then charged into by Martin. Binns startled by the actions of the Forest forward lost his balance and carried the ball over the line. Uproar followed and led by a tearful Binns the Barnsley players protested heavily to the referee. The referee Mr Snape from Swansea eventually consulted his linesmen who confirmed the ball had crossed the line and the goal was allowed to stand.

There was still time in the game for more drama when in the dying seconds Barnsley almost snatched it when a shot from Logan evaded Forest keeper Ashton only to bounce back off the upright and to safety. When the final whistle sounded moments later Forest were able to celebrate as they had survived ahead of Barnsley in the most dramatic of circumstance and also by the slimmest possible margin, 0.002 of a goal as Forest finished with a Goal Average of 0.783 compared to 0.781 of Barnsley after finishing level on 36 points.

Saturday 07 May 1938

LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

BARNSLEY (1) 2 v NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1) 2

0-1          26 mins         Dave ‘Boy’ Martin (NFFC)

1-1          35 mins         Beaumont Asquith (Barnsley)

2-1          60 mins         Herbert Barlow (Barnsley)

2-2          85 mins         Dave ‘Boy’ Martin (NFFC)

NFFC

Percy Ashton, Reg Trim, John Munro, Robert Davies, Tommy Graham, Bill Baxter, Arthur Betts, Meynell Burgin, Dave ‘Boy’ Martin, Jack Surtees, Roy Brown

BARNSLEY

Cliff Binns, George Hinsley, Emlyn Williams, Frank Bokas, Bernard Harper, John Logan, George Bullock, Herbert Barlow, Ernie Hine, Beaumont Asquith, Eric Bray

Referee : P.Snape (Swansea)

Attendance :                  16,539