Their first game in the Football League was a 1–0 defeat away at Lincoln City on 1 September 1898. Their first league win was a 2–0 victory at home against Luton Town, with John McArtney scoring the first ever league goal for the Tykes from the penalty spot. The team struggled in Division Two for the first ten years, due in part to ongoing financial difficulties. But then came the 1909–10 season, which saw the team on better form than they had ever been. They had a spectacular FA Cup run, beating out Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Everton to reach the final. Here they played Newcastle United and were leading 1–0 until the final minute when Newcastle controversially equalised, causing a replay which Barnsley lost 2–0. The following season they finished 19th in the league and were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League, which they gratefully received.