Barnsley FC completed their second pre-season game with a 1-1 draw at Worksop Town. FIRST HALF The Reds looked to start the game positively and on the front foot, looking to get the ball forward quickly. It took only 3 mins for Luke Alker to deliver a teasing ball in from the left hand side which was held well by the Goalkeeper. The first effort of the game did come from the hosts, who blazed an effort well high and wide from distance. After a period of battling in midfield, Barnsley began to enjoy the majority of the ball and again showed good work down the left, this time through new signing Nathaniel Ogbeta who’s whipped delivery in on 21 minutes caused issues for the Worksop goalkeeper. Shortly after, Corey O’keefe had The Reds’ first shot on goal, with a curling effort from 20 yards just left of the 18 yard box. His effort flew just wide of the top right corner. Barnsley were forced into making two changes at the midway point of the first half with Leo Farrell coming off with a knock, along with Tom Senior being substituted with a head injury. As the half wore on, Worksop had a couple of chances of their own. Murphy Cooper turned a strike around the post, low to his left. Before Liam Hughes’ header, clipped the Bar on the way over. SECOND HALF The second half saw new signing Reyes Cleary introduced for the first time in a red shirt and it was the new man who delivered the first good move of the half. Excellent footwork on halfway before an equally good switch of play ended in a strike that whistled across the face of goal from Corey O’keefe on 52 minutes. Just a few minutes later, Vimal Yoganathan and Neil Farrugia combined well on the right hand side, leading to the midfielder pouncing on a loose ball on edge of area but couldn’t quite direct his shot on target. The Reds’ had largely successes with their persistence from play out from the back, but a loose ball into midfield was intercepted by Alexander Starcenko of Worksop, and lofted over Murphy Cooper for the opening goal of the game on 63 minutes. Luca Connell’s introduction saw Barnsley regain control and his cross field switch of play, picked out Farrugia on the right, who cutely stabbed the ball into the path of Yoganathan but was pounced on by the goalkeeper to prevent a tap in. On 80 minutes, Yoganathan was involved once more, showing great composure to squeeze through a ball for the run of Davis Keillor-Dunn who coolly finished past the keeper for Barnsley’s equaliser and his second of pre-season. FULL TIME - Worksop Town 1-1 Barnsley FC Continue reading...
