Official Match report

At the risk of being picky - I think Rob should check the table before penning his final report. We <font color="#ff0000">are</font> 4th </p>

<div class="layout"><div class="border"><span class="headline"> Breaking News </span></div><div class="borderBottom"><div class="article"><div class="articleText"><h3 class="headline">FULL TIME FROM OAKWELL </h3><div class="articleBody">

<span style="COLOR: red">BARNSLEY</span><span style="COLOR: red"> 1 (Richards 28 P)</span></p>

HARTLEPOOL UNITED 1 (Williams 50)</p>



A DISAPPOINTING second half showing saw the Reds throw away the chance of fourth place and only scrape a point against Hartlepool United although other results meant they remained in a play off position.</p>



Even more worrying for Barnsley was a serious looking injury to defender Antony Kay and an ankle problem for star winger Martin Devaney which look set to keep both out of Wednesday's trip to Bournemouth.</p>

After the bitter disappointment of blowing their unbeaten run at Yeovil, Reds boss Andy Ritchie made two changes recalling Nick Colgan and Martin to the starting eleven after injury and illness. Scott Flinders and Robbie Williams missed out although both were named on the bench.</p>

Barnsley started to click right from the first whistle with Paul Reid picking out Devaney down the left with just three minutes on the clock. The winger survived two or three hacks by Steven Istead before crossing for Paul Hayes, who brought a fine save from Dimi Konstantopoulos.</p>

Three minutes later the Reds pulled Hartlepool apart again with Brian Howard eventually getting a cross in from the right for Hayes again but this time the striker could only glance his backward header wide of the target.</p>

Again the Reds came on strong with Jacob Burns firing just wide on ten minutes before Hayes again brought the best out of Konstantopoulos six minutes later as he turned brilliantly onto Neil Austin's pass before firing for the bottom corner.</p>

Hartlepool finally broke as an attacking force on 18 minutes as Chris Llewellyn got the better of Kay on the right before crossing but Anthony Sweeney could only head straight at Colgan from 12 yards.</p>

Chris Shuker thought he had broken the deadlock on 25 minutes as he took the ball on down the right before unleashing a great drive that cannoned back off the underside of the bar. As the Pools defence scrambled around Devaney then found space to play in Hayes but again Konstantopoulos made himself big to smother the striker's low shot.</p>

For all the Reds dominance in the opening stages it was a little surprising that the opening goal came from the penalty spot on 28 minutes but it was a fantastic flowing move that earned the kick. Shuker and Hayes combined brilliantly to carve open a great chance for Burns in the area and, after the midfielder was cynically tripped by Michael Nelson, Marc Richards stepped up to net with a low shot from 12 yards.</p>

Barnsley should have had a second spot kick on 33 minutes as Howard burst into the area onto Hayes pass only to be taken out by Istead. This time the referee amazingly waved away the Reds claims to another stonewall penalty.</p>

Pools almost grabbed a leveller against the run of play on 38 minutes as a fortunate bounce on the edge of the area sent Llewellyn through but Colgan was quickly out to smother the danger.</p>

The visitors went close again on 48 minutes as Istead's low cross eventually bounced through to Thomas Butler on the left but the winger blazed the ball over the top under pressure. A minute later Eifion Williams managed to find space in the area but this time the striker shot wide with only Colgan to beat.</p>

Pools managed to draw level on 50 minutes when Austin failed to deal with Istead on the edge of the penalty area and gave the winger free reign to cross. This time Williams did not miss and planted a bouncing effort into the bottom corner.</p>

Again Hartlepool broke quickly on 57 minutes as Butler looked to grab a second. The winger cut inside past Bobby Hassell well but his shot was rushed and flew high and wide of the target.</p>

It took a while coming but finally the Reds decided to click into something like the gear they had strolled through the first half in as Hayes did well to pick out Howard in the area on 62 minutes. The midfielder turned well before firing a snap shot goalward but straight into the midriff of Pools giant keeper Konstantopoulos.</p>

Howard was in the thick of the action again on 74 minutes as he felt the full force of Darren Craddock's mistimed challenge. Shuker stepped up but put his curling free kick inches over the top.</p>

Pools could have won it on 86 minutes as Llewellyn managed to get one on one with Hassell down the Reds right but this time the former Wrexham star dragged his effort wide of the target.</p>

<span style="COLOR: red">BARNSLEY</span><span style="COLOR: red">: Colgan, Hassell, Reid, Burns (Tonge 83), Hayes, Howard, Austin, Kay (Carbon 21), Shuker, Richards, Devaney (Jarman 76). </span></p>

<span style="COLOR: red">Subs: Flinders, Williams. </span></p>

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Konstantopoulos, Nelson, Llewellyn, Humphreys, Williams (Daly 88), Sweeney, Clark, Craddock, Butler, Istead (Clarke 70), Collins.</p>

Subs: Strachan, Provett, Maidens.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="layout"><div class="border"><span class="headline"> Related Search </span></div><div class="borderBottom"><div class="ArticleRelatedSearch"><style type="text/css"></style><div class="articleRelateSearchImage" style="COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: right"> </div><div style="COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Find  <span class="linkColor">Barnsley FC</span>  on the web </div></div></div></div><div class="layout"><div class="border"><span class="headline"> Barnsley Offers </span></div><div class="borderBottom"><div class="advert"><a href="http://www.barnsleyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/redirect/index.html?campaignName=worldcontextual">
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Touche

Didnt know anyone studied my posts so closely