Colchester report-a bit 1 sided I think

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In a tough encounter at Oakwell, the U's lost 1-0 to Barnsley, who won with a Brian Howard goal in the second half.  </p>

After a goalless first half that the U's had had the better of, Barnsley stormed back and got the win thanks to Howard scoring from close range.</p>

In a match that held more importance in terms of the season targets than last weekend's game at Chelsea, U's boss Phil Parkinson made one change to his starting line-up with George Elokobi coming in for John White at left back. </p>

White has done a tremendous job this season and the change came to give him a rest in the lead up to what will be a tough final quarter of the season.</p>

Sam Stockley, who missed out on a place in the squad at Stamford Bridge came onto the bench to provide full back cover for Parky. It was going to be a tough match against the Yorkshire side who were also fighting for those coveted promotion places with only fourteen matches left.</p>

Barnsley boss Andy Richie made two changes from the side that went to Prenton Park last Saturday and beat Tranmere 1-0, thanks to a goal by Paul Heckingbottom. Paul Hayes and Brian Howard came into the starting eleven in place of Jacob Burns and Marc Richards.</p>

As the game got underway, it was clear that any hangover the U's might have had after the Chelsea match had been overcome before they arrived at Oakwell as they were the only team in the game for the opening half hour. It only took them two minutes to create the first shooting opportunity, Mark Yeates hitting his shot well over the bar after a Greg Halford long throw.</p>

It was Yeates shooting over again in the fourth minute and with eleven on the clock, Richard Garcia hit a left foot volley that Colgan in the home goal had to dive full length to save. Colgan was in action again, seconds later when he saved Yeates' shot low at his near post.</p>

The best chance of the half then fell to U's top scorer Chris Iwelumo when he got on the end of an Aidan Davison clearance. As Colgan advanced, Iwelumo headed the ball past him but by the time he reached his own knockdown, the angle was too acute for him to find the net.</p>

Apart from the odd break by the home side, it was all Colchester United and Garcia maybe should have done better on the far post from another Halford long throw. The Aussie got on the end of an Iwelumo flick but seemed to be caught in two minds, whether to control it or shoot and Colgan was quick to smother the loose ball.</p>

The home crowd finally had something to cheer in the first half but it took thirty-nine minutes for it to come. Shuker was found out on the right by McPhail and his fierce shot was blocked by a retreating Pat Baldwin. Seconds later, Davison was called into action, saving well from a Brian Howard shot.</p>

Barnsley finished the half well and Howard had a shot that drifted wide before Danns was adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box. Luckily the free kick was put straight into Davison's hands and the referee blew for half time. Phil Parkinson would have been the more pleased manager in the changing rooms but needed his team to turn their possession into goals in the second period.</p>

The second half began with both side having a few decent passages of play but no real end product and it was once again the U's who had the early chances. Both chances fell to Yeates but neither had enough venom to trouble Colgan in the home goal.</p>

A couple of Kevin Watson corners caused problems at the near post but both times, it was a Barnsley boot that was first to the ball. From a corner of their own in the sixtieth minute, Barnsley's Martin Devaney found himself free twelve yards out but headed over the bar.</p>

The home crowd were warming up now and they had a penalty claim waved away when they thought Duguid had handled. They were then baying for a red card for George Elokobi as he body checked Shuker. Elokobi had been booked in the first half but the referee rightly left his cards in his pocket.</p>

Phil Parkinson made his first substitution of the afternoon after sixty five minutes when he replaced Elokobi with Sam Stockley. Stockley went to right back and skipper Karl Duguid moved across the back four to take up the left back spot that Elokobi had vacated.</p>

The pressure that Barnsley were putting on Colchester paid dividends after seventy two minutes when Paul Hayes pounced to put the Tykes ahead. Hayes' initial header from a left wing cross was well saved by Davison but Howard was first to the rebound and blasted home.</p>

Parky put another forward on with fourteen minutes to go, Kevin Watson making way for Gareth Williams. A minute later, fellow forward Garcia should have equalised but his free header went wide of the upright. </p>

On eighty-one minutes, a great run by Yeates led to a U's corner and the ball fell kindly to Garcia, whose shot was well blocked by two Barnsley defenders. Yeates got himself in another good position but his toe poked effort flew high and wide.</p>

Davison saved a late free kick but the U's had a chance of their own from a free kick with only four minutes to go. </p>

Wayne Brown floated the ball into the box for Iwelumo to flick on, but Duguid couldn't direct his header on target. Iwelumo then hit the post on eighty-nine minutes and a scramble in injury time ended with Williams and Halford having shots saved. </p>

It was a disappointing result for the U's, especially with the dominance they showed in the first twenty minutes or so. With a tough run in, the U's have to regroup for the big Essex derby next weekend. </p>

Us: Davison, Duguid, Baldwin, Brown, Elokobi, Halford, Danns, Watson, Yeates, Iwelumo, Garcia.</p>

<span>Subs: Gerken, Stockley, Chilvers, Williams, Izzet.</span></p><p align="center"><font color="#000066"></font></p>

 

whereas for once a fair home report !!

BRIAN Howard marked his return to the starting eleven with a fine goal to keep the Reds in the hunt for automatic promotion by beating rivals Colchester United at Oakwell.</p>

Reds boss Andy Ritchie was forced into changes following last weekend's victory at Tranmere with Howard and Paul Hayes coming into the starting eleven. Marc Richards missed out through suspension while Jacob Burns was only on the bench.</p>

The visitors started brightly with Greg Halford's long throw on two minutes causing problems. The ball eventually fell to Mark Yeates on the edge of the area but the winger blazed a shot high over the top of Nick Colgan's goal.</p>

At the other end Tommy Wright did well to ride a couple of challenges two minutes later before shooting but Aidan Davison was in the right place to make a comfortable save. Seconds later Yeates again got a shot away from the edge of the area after Colchester had fashioned half a chance but again he fired high into the stand.</p>

The game lit up on ten minutes when defender George Elokobi made no attempt to play the ball and pole-axed Neil Austin on the edge of the area. The U's player escaped with just a caution.</p>

Barnsley broke quickly on eleven minutes when a neat interchange set Stephen McPhail free but the Irish international shot inches wide of the target from 12 yards. Again Colchester showed their attacking intend on 12 minutes when Richard Garcia forced Colgan into a diving save with a drive from 18 yards.</p>

Colchester could have gone in front on 14 minutes as Chris Iwelumo barged his way through Bobby Hassell to race onto Davison's long kick and managed to get the ball round Colgan but was beaten by the angle and could not turn it in.</p>

Another Halford long throw caused problems on 24 minutes and the ball eventually broke to Garcia in the six yard box but Colgan was alert enough to make a good block on his line.</p>

Chris Shuker's quick thinking almost created a goal on 27 minutes as his early cross wrong-footed the United defence. It fell to Martin Devaney but the winger could not keep his low shot on target from 12 yards.</p>

United again showed they were much more than a direct side on 35 minutes as neat build up play gave Garcia a shooting chance but this time Colgan managed to turn his effort away for a corner kick.</p>

The Reds showed they could play a bit two minutes later as McPhail's great pass sent Shuker in on the right and his effort beat Davison but Wayne Brown was in the right place to clear off the line.</p>

Hayes was again in the thick of the action on 41 minutes as he broke into the inside right channel before pulling the ball back but Howard could only bring a wonderful save from Davison from ten yards.</p>

More neat play by Shuker gave Howard another decent opportunity on 43 minutes but this time the midfielder dragged his shot wide from 18 yards.</p>

Barnsley were rampant by this stage and the U's defence had trouble coping. A niggling foul on Shuker gave the Reds another chance on 44 minutes but again Davison was in the right place to save McPhail's curler from 25 yards.</p>

The visitors again had the opening chance of the first half as Yeates managed to hold off McPhail's challenge before dragging his shot well wide of the target. The Reds broke quickly on 51 minutes with Devaney causing problems before finding Howard in the area but this time Brown managed to get a great block on the ball to clear.</p>

Hassell had to be alert on 58 minutes to hack Kevin Watson's corner away from almost on his own line. Minutes later a corner from Shuker found Devaney in acres of space but the winger could not direct his free header on target.</p>

The Reds had a great shout for a penalty waved away on 62 minutes as Austin's cross was handled in the area by Karl Duguid. The referee amazingly gave nothing.</p>

Seconds later Hassell forced Davison into a fine save with a looping header from Shuker's deep corner. Colchester were still a threat and Neil Danns managed to get a shot away on 68 minutes but his effort was always rising and ended up high in the North Stand.</p>

The opener finally came on 72 minutes as Howard rose to power Devaney's cross goalward. Davison managed to stop the initial header but did not react quick enough as Howard drove the rebound into the back of the net.</p>

Colchester pressed for an equaliser Garcia almost got in on goal on 76 minutes as he got to Iwelumo's knock down but Antony Kay showed great strength and determination to clear the ball. United really should have been level two minutes later as Iwelumo got his head to Halford's long throw but somehow put it wide from six yards.</p>

Yeates was always a danger down the left and he managed to get away from a couple of challenges to race into the area on 82 minutes but he rushed his effort and shot high over the top.</p>

McPhail again brought a save from Davison with a free kick on 84 minutes before Danns really should have scored a minute later when he put a free header wide of the target from just four yards after Iwelumo had again nodded into centre.</p>

Colgan was the Reds hero yet again on 88 minutes as he reacted quickly to turn Iwelumo's effort onto the post after the giant striker looked odds on to level things from Sam Stockley's right wing cross.</p>

Colgan again was in the right place to make a fantastic last minute double save to deny Garcia and Halford as the U's threw everything into a desperate assault on the Reds goal.</p>

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, Hayes, McPhail (Reid 87), Howard (Burns 80), Austin, Kay, Shuker (McParland 85), Devaney, Wright.
Subs: Flinders, Williams.</p>

COLCHESTER UNITED: Davison, Halford, Danns, Brown, Watson (Williams 77), Duguid, Iwelumo, Baldwin, Yeates, Elokobi (Stockley 65), Garcia.
Subs: Gerken, Izzet, Chilvers. </p><p align="center"></p>

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