[BFC SITE] Reds secure victory on the road at Crawley

Goals from Adam Phillips and Donovan Pines allowed Barnsley to secure a second successive victory on the road, defeating Crawley Town 3-0 in a magnificent performance at Broadfield Stadium.

The Reds had the first chance of the game just a minute in, when Max Watters was able to use his pace to get the better of Crawley defender Cameron Bragg, and managed to get into a one-on-one position, only for his subsequent effort to strike the post and go out of play.

Barnsley were forced to make an early substitution in the ninth minute when Watters went down through injury, and his replacement, Aiden Marsh came close to opening the scoring a minute later, with a right footed shot outside the box which drew a stop from Crawley goalkeeper, Jojo Wollacott.

Darrell Clarke’s men looked sharp in the opening minutes, putting the opposition under extreme pressure with a sustained high press, and they eventually found the breakthrough after 12 minutes, with Pines heading home a corner kick at the back post, for his second goal of the season, and Barnsley’s first goal of the afternoon.

The Reds almost doubled their advantage two minutes later, when Phillips was able to get onto the end of a Barry Cotter cross with an excellent shot which hit the post and was cleared an opposition defender.

Barnsley continued to impress as the half progressed, and came close to scoring another after 22 minutes, when a Luca Connell free kick from twenty five yards out forced a diving save from Wollacott. A minute later, the Reds captain sent a through ball into the direction of Phillips, and the midfielder slotted home inside the box with a cool finish to double the scoring.

After a cagey ten-minute spell, where both sides enjoyed periods in which they controlled possession, the Reds came close again in the 38th minute, when Wollacott was forced to tip a Connell corner over the bar to prevent the incoming head of Pines. Pines also came close from the follow-up set piece, heading narrowly over the crossbar.

As half time approached, the Reds were awarded a penalty in the 46th minute, when Phillips was fouled in the eighteen-yard box following a magnificent run from the halfway line. The Barnsley number 8 duly stepped up and hit a calm and composed finish to the Crawley keeper’s left, ensuring that the Reds entered half time with a three-goal advantage, after an outstanding first half display.

HALF TIME: Crawley Town 0-3 Barnsley FC

Barnsley started the second half well, and came close to extending their lead in the 54th minute, when Connell hit an audacious dipping volley from just outside the area following a corner kick, which forced a save from Wollacott, Mael de Gevigney also came close from the subsequent set piece, with the Reds defender heading just wide of the target.

The visitors almost managed to pull one back two minutes later, when Jay Williams managed to get a header in at the near post following an opposition free-kick, but Gabriel Slonina forced the Crawley midfielder to a tighter angle and he headed well wide of the mark.

Darrell Clarke’s men continued to display an constant attacking threat throughout the half, and Kyran Lofthouse almost added a fourth in the 63rd minute, producing a mazing run from deep within the Reds’ half, before hitting a shot which forced an outstanding stop from the opposition stopper. Marsh also came close a minute later, receiving the ball from Matthew Craig, before hitting a low, powerful effort just outside the area which was caught by Wollacott.

Substitute Vimal Yoganathan produced an excellent chance for the Reds in the 72nd minute, making a fantastic run down the right flank before squaring the ball into the box, however, Marsh was unable to reach the ball in time and it was cleared by a Crawley defender.

As the game entered its closing minutes, Barnsley composed themselves well to ensure that the opposition were unable to find their way into the game, holding a solid defensive line and keeping opposition play largely constrained to their own half. This paid dividends, as the Reds were able to see out the remainder of the game and took three points back to South Yorkshire.

FULL TIME: Crawley Town 0-3 Barnsley FC

Barnsley XI: Slonina (GK), Cotter, Pines (Roberts, 80), de Gevigney, Earl, O’Keeffe, Phillips, Craig, Connell (C), Lofthouse (Yoganathan, 68), Watters (Marsh, 9)

Subs not used: Killip, Russell, Gent, Nwakali

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