[BFC SITE] Reds held to home draw with Wycombe

Barnsley FC came away with a well-deserved point after a 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One, under the lights at Oakwell.

Barnsley started the game well, with an attack down the right wing leading to their first corner. Minutes later, Sam Cosgrove put the ball in the back of the net after positive link-up play between Davis Keillor-Dunn and Kyran Lofthouse down the left wing found the number 9 in the box, but the linesman quickly flagged for outside.

The visitors had their first attack minutes later, but Slonina came out to claim the errant ball in the Barnsley box. The Reds countered, with Cosgrove putting in a great ball from the right flank which led to Wycombe captain Grimmer clearing the ball behind his own goal for a corner kick.

The Chairboys were awarded a free-kick just outside the box following a foul by Matthew Craig, but the free kick did not amount to any significant chance. Both teams had spells of possession at the midway point of the first half, but neither could get the breakthrough.

After a quiet spell, the visitors put a cross into the box, but Reds’ defender Donovan Pines rose well to head away the opportunity.

With five minutes to go until the half-time break, Kyran Lofthouse found space down the left flank. His cross was headed out, landing at the feet of Barry Cotter whose shot was blocked by the Wycombe defence. And after a cagey first 45 minutes, the score remained goalless.

HALF TIME: Barnsley FC 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers

The visitors took the lead shortly after, when Kieran Sadlier found Beryly Lubala at the back post, who placed the ball into the bottom left corner.

The Reds reacted well and almost got an equaliser when Luca Connell hit a shot from distance, but the Barnsley skipper’s shot was directed just wide of the target.

Darrell Clarke’s men then made a double substitution, putting Stephen Humphrys and Fabio Jalo on for Donovan Pines and Kyran Lofthouse, attempting to give them an attacking boost in the final thirty minutes. Humphrys made an immediate impact, finding himself in space in the box. The forward cut in on his right foot, before slotting it past the Wycombe ‘keeper to level the score.

Good pressure from Humphrys almost led to a second goal minutes later, but the keeper managed to play it out to his defender away from danger. The Chairboys had another chance to regain their lead, with a shot that was directed over the bar.

Barnsley had a chance to take a quick throw-in on the right-hand side, but the referee blew for a foul throw, halting the Reds’ attack. A great turn and run from Fabio Jalo got the Reds up the pitch but he was shouldered off the ball, preventing them from creating another chance.

The young forward looked impressive coming off the bench, controlling the ball just outside the box wide of the goal, and cutting inside on his left with an attempt to curl the ball into the side netting, which was directed wide of the post.

Richard Kone made it two for the visitors with five minutes to spare, hitting a powerful shot past Gabriel Slonina following a goalmouth scramble.

Barnsley were eager to find a second goal and just a few minutes after going behind, they made it level. A cross came into the box and Roberts was first to react from a tight angle, smashing the ball into the back of the net.

With six minutes added time, the game was far from finished. Both teams pushed in the final minutes of the contest in an attempt to take home all three points, but in the end, they had to settle for a draw.

FULL TIME: Barnsley FC 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers

Barnsley: Slonina, Cotter, Roberts, Pines (Humphrys, 55), De Gevigney, Cosgrove, Lofthouse (Jalo, 55), Craig, Earl, Keillor-Dunn (Benson, 70), Connell

Subs not used: Killip, Russell, O’Keeffe, Marsh

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