GILLINGHAM 0 BARNSLEY 3 (Shuker 39, Hayes 42, Nardiello 85) A CONFIDENT and composed Barnsley cruised to their first away win of the season with a fine display to comfortably beat Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Reds boss Andy Ritchie made two changes to the side that beat Nottingham Forest last weekend with Nicky Wroe and Dale Tonge coming into the side. Matt Carbon missed out through injury and Robbie Williams dropped to the bench. The Reds started brightly with Jacob Burns and Chris Shuker combining well down the right on three minutes but Jason Brown did well to hold the cross. At the other end Andy Hessenthaler managed to find space in the area a minute later bit shot wide of the target under pressure. Strong play by Barry Conlon held the ball up well on eight minutes but Paul Reid could only fire wide of the target from distance as the Gills defence pressed forward. The home side should have been in front on ten minutes as Darren Byfield did well to play in Danny Jackman down the left but the Gills midfielder could only drag the ball across goal when well placed. Hessenthaler was the creator on 14 minutes as his cross caught the Reds back line napping but Tonge was in the right place to deny Neil Harris an easy tap in. Barnsley went straight down the other end and Conlon did well again to hold the ball up but this time Burns lashed his effort high over the top. Gillingham pressed again and former Grimsby star Alan Pouton sent in a dangerous ball across on 17 minutes but this time Harris headed well wide. Harris got in again on 18 minutes after Wroe had given the ball away in midfield but again the striker fired wide with the Reds defence caught out. A quick counter by Paul Hayes opened the Gills backline on 27 minutes and the striker fed Shuker well in the middle but the Reds winger could only fire his effort into a defender and away. Byfield really should have put the Gills in front on 34 minutes as he took advantage of a howler by Antony Kay to race in on goal but the striker was denied by Nick Colgan's fine save. The home side should have been in front again on 38 minutes as Matthew Jarvis did well to beat Tonge down the flank before forcing Colgan into a fine save. Harris flung himself at the ball but this time it was Neil Austin in the right place to clear. Barnsley went straight down the other end and Hayes did well to find Shuker and this time the Reds winger made no mistake powering the ball past Brown and into the bottom corner. It got even better for the Reds on 42 minutes as Conlon did well to find Hayes on the edge of the area and this time the striker showed great composure and skill to chip the ball over Brown and into the far corner from 18 yards. Barnsley started the second half brightly with Martin Devaney breaking quickly before finding Shuker in space on the right. Shuker crossed well but Conlon could only head straight at Brown under pressure on 47 minutes. Burns then went close with a low shot from distance two minutes later after great play on the edge of the area by Conlon. A foul on Burns by Andrew Croft gave the Reds another great chance on 57 minutes but the Aussie midfielder could only find a Gills defender with his effort from the edge of the area. Austin hammered the rebound straight at Brown with the Gillingham defence in disarray. Gillingham rallied finally with substitute Michael Flynn crashing a free kick against the wall on 64 minutes. Hessenthaler had a great chance to reduce the deficit seconds later as the ball broke down the right but lashed his effort well wide of the target. The home side went close again on 72 minutes as Hessenthaler sent over a great corner from the left for Byfield but the big striker could only head wide from six yards. At the other end substitute Daniel Nardiello tricked his way past three players before forcing Brown into a save on 81 minutes. Gillingham defender Ian Cox had a massive let off on 85 minutes as he hauled back Marc Richards as the striker burst through on goal. The referee only showed a yellow card but Nardiello made the centre half pay the ultimate price when he curled the free kick into the far corner with Brown stranded. It could have been even better for the Reds on 88 minutes as Richards fed Nardiello in the area but this time Brown was in the right place to make a fine save. Seconds later the roles were reversed as Nardiello fed Richards but again Brown managed to make the stop. GILLINGHAM: Brown, Cox, Crofts (Hislop 79), Hessenthaler, Jackman, Rose, Hope, Harris, Byfield, Jarvis, Pouton (Flynn 62). Subs: Crichton, Johnson, Shields. BARNSLEY: Colgan, Reid, Burns, Hayes (Nardiello 77), Conlon (Richards 74), Austin, Kay, Wroe, Shuker, Tonge, Devaney (Williams 66). Subs: Flinders, Laight.
