[BFC SITE] REDS COME THROUGH OPENING PRE-SEASON TEST

The Reds enjoyed a first pre-season outing of the 2025/26 campaign, beating Emley A.F.C by three goals to nil at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Tuesday evening.


It was an encouraging opening couple of minutes for the Reds as Josh Earl twice found Barry Cotter in space with a long-range pass, but Emley defended resolutely to stop any danger.

The 16th minute of the game saw the Reds take the lead, a pinpoint Adam Phillips ball over the top of the Emley defence landed at the feet of Davis Keillor-Dunn, and the forward made no mistake when facing the goalkeeper one-on-one as he delivered a cool finish into the bottom right corner.

The Reds looked to double their lead in quick time as Jonathan Bland drove up the pitch, before delivering a powerful strike from 20 yards that stung the palms of the Emley goalkeeper. Davis Keillor-Dunn came close to doubling his tally for the evening in the 28th minute as he attempted an audacious chip that left the Emley goalkeeper stranded, but the effort just didn’t quite dip in time.

The Reds began to dominate proceedings as a quick counter-attack resulted in the ball landing at Atkinson’s feet, but the youngster’s effort whistled wide of the post. The Reds eventually did double their lead in the 37th minute as an intricate pattern of play on the edge of the Emley box resulted in the ball landing in Robson Woodcock’s stride, and the youngster provided a clinical finish to make it 2–0 to the Reds.

Half-time: Emley A.F.C 0-2 Barnsley FC

The first chance of the second 45 fell to the Reds, specifically Leo Farrell. After some scrappy play in the Emley half, the forward picked the ball up and tried his luck from range, but it was a weak effort that trickled into the hands of the Emley goalkeeper. The second half was one of very few chances, but in the 79th minute Neil Farrugia added a third for the Reds. The Irishman picked up the ball from 25 yards and delivered a sumptuous curling strike past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper to all but ensure the Reds picked up the victory in their first pre-season outing.

In the 86th minute, the hosts almost grabbed a consolation goal from a well-worked free-kick, but a close-range header was superbly kept out by the quick reactions of Kieren Flavell. In the dying moments of the game, Flavell made another notable save, the shot-stopper narrowed the angle for the Emley forward before making a smart save with his feet.

Full-time: Emley A.F.C 0-3 Barnsley FC



REDS FIRST HALF XI: Cooper (GK), de Gevigney, Barratt, Earl, Woodcock, Bland, Graham, Cotter, Phillips, Atkinson, Keillor-Dunn.



REDS SECOND HALF XI: Flavell (GK), Roberts, Senior, McCann, Alker, Connell, Graham (Kay 70'), Yoganathan, O'Keeffe, Farrugia, Farrell.



UNUSED SUBS: Ravenhill (GK), Kozluk, Afuape.



Attendance: 1,546

Continue reading...