Just got back - match report

Ref was diabolical. Two goals disallowed. Hayes missed a sitter. Richards played well when he came on and I thought Devaney had a good game too. MK Dons are rubbish, we were a bit better. We were physical but Conlon's yellow off that poncy goalkeeper was outrageous. I'll settle for a point but really we edged it and could have taken all 3.

One comment on Austin, he was having a go at Colgan, Reid and Kay, what's his problem? Or is it everyone else who has the problem?

 

YOU GOT BACK QUICK

 

I was driving a 7yr old VW Polo

That's why.

 

Devaney had his best game for us today. We should have won but under the circumstances I'm happy with a point. MK Dons ARE rubbish!

 

Match report from Official Site

FULL TIME FROM THE NATIONAL HOCKEY STADIUM

MK DONS 0

BARNSLEY 0

A BRACE of disgraceful decisions by the linesman cost the Reds two goals and a well-deserved victory against MK Dons at the National Hockey Stadium this afternoon.

Reds boss Andy Ritchie made just one change to the side that comprehensively disposed of Gillingham at the Priestfield in midweek with Robbie Williams coming back in at left back at the expense of Dale Tonge. MK Dons, led by former Barnsley manager and Oakwell legend Danny Wilson, included ex-Reds trialist Nicky Rizzo in their starting eleven as they looked to pick up their first win of the new campaign.

As clouds descended on a bright summer's afternoon in Milton Keynes, the Reds looked to continue their excellent week with a third victory in as many matches.

It was the home side who should have opened the scoring in the first minute as Dean Lewington powered his way down the left to cross and although Williams managed to clear, Paul Mitchell found space on the edge of the area to volley goalward but his effort was well wide of the target.

It took a while for the Reds to settle but Jacob Burns managed to get his foot on the ball on nine minutes and loft a great pass over the Dons defence for Paul Hayes to run clear but the striker was denied by a late offside flag.

A minute later Chris Shuker and Martin Devaney combined well to send Hayes through again but this time the striker was denied by Matt Baker's smart save. Shuker managed to find space again on eleven minutes but this time Lewington was somehow able to block his goalbound effort. Shuker again did well on 13 minutes to break to the byline and cross but this time Baker grabbed his cross before Barry Conlon could pounce.

The best the MK Dons could muster was a wide effort form Gary Smith which was more a danger to the cars parked in the retail park behind the West Stand at the National Hockey Stadium than Nick Colgan's goal.

A great ball through the heart of the Reds defence by Rizzo sent Izale McLeod away on 24 minutes but the striker wasted a golden opportunity by blasting high over the top with only Colgan to beat.

Dons had another great chance after McLeod conned a free kick by diving over Nicky Wroe's outstretched leg on 27 minutes. Wroe was booked for his challenge but justice was done when Rizzo blasted his shot into the wall.

Malvin Kamara almost got in on goal on the half hour but a combination of Paul Reid and Neil Austin managed to clear the danger. A minute later Smith finally tested Colgan with a low drive but the Irish international was well-placed to smother his effort.

The Reds thought they had broken the deadlock on 33 minutes as Devaney showed great skill to beat two Dons defenders down the left and cross for Conlon to power his header into the back of the net only for a very harsh offside flag to deny the striker.

MK Dons came again through McLeod on 39 minutes but this time the striker showed his selfish side when he let fly from 25 yards and hammered an effort almost out of the stadium.

McLeod again showed his ridiculous side on 44 minutes as he beat Paul Reid down the left before trying to shoot past Colgan from the byline. The Reds defence cleared the danger.

Conlon went close again in stoppage time when his glancing header was tipped away off the bar for a corner but again poor officiating handed the Dons a goal kick.

The Dons started the second half well with Smith shooting over on 47 minutes but it was the Reds who really should have been in front just a minute later when Williams crossed well from the left but the ball hit Conlon yards from goal and bounced wide.

Hayes got in again on goal on 49 minutes as he raced on Austin's deft through ball but lashed his shot high into the stand with only Baker to beat. The home side were still dangerous and Smith's free kick gave Platt a great chance on 51 minutes but the tall striker somehow headed wide from six yards.

While McLeod seemingly won a free kick every time he took a tumble under the faintest of challenges, Conlon was given nothing at all as time and again he was hammered by Craig Morgan as the pair challenged for the aerial ball. McLeod again managed to get the luckiest of deflections on 58 minutes as the ball fell time him in the area but again the striker could not find a finish and shot wide of the target.

A corner by Burns almost gifted a goal for Williams on 65 minutes as the full back rose highest but saw his headed clawed away by Baker. Seconds later another scramble in the area saw Antony Kay flash a shot across goal that the Dons keeper did well to hold under Conlon's strong challenge.

Conlon managed to get his head onto the ball on 67 minutes to send Shuker clean on goal but the winger could only loft his effort over the onrushing Baker and wide of the target.

At the other end Rizzo did well to break free of Austin on 69 minutes as shoot but Colgan easily tipped his tame effort away for a corner. A good break forward by substitute Marc Richards and Burns found Devaney in acres of space on 74 minutes on the right and this time the winger opted to shoot but put his effort wide of the target.

The Reds had another goal chalked off on 78 minutes as Daniel Nardiello beat Morgan all ends up before rifling the ball home from distance. It was a great move and a fantastic finish but for some reason the linesman waited until the ball had hit the net and Nardiello was away celebrating before signalling for the harshest of fouls.

Again the Reds came with Devaney sending Richards in on 79 minutes but the young striker could only hammer his shot straight at Baker under pressure from Lewington. A minute later Nardiello again beat the Dons defence all ends up but this time Baker managed to claw his shot away for a corner.

The home side were by no means out of it and Smith again found space to shoot on 85 minutes but again Colgan was more than comfortable with his effort although he had to gather it at the second attempt.

In stoppage time Richards thought he had won the game when his glancing header from Burns' corner beat Baker but cannoned away off the bar.

MK DONS: Baker, McClenahan, Lewington, Morgan, Mitchell (McKoy 77), Platt, McLeod, Smith, Kamara (Edds 57), Rizzo (Wilbraham 88), Mills.

Subs: Crooks, Carrilho.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Reid, Burns, Hayes (Nardiello 63), Conlon, Austin, Kay, Wroe, Shuker (Richards 71), Williams, Devaney (Tonge 89).

Subs: Hassell, Flinders.

 

Looked out for you today. Was in Wetherspoons prematch.

 

I looked for you too, and a short bloke, a grumpy bloke and a rude bloke. Sorry I missed you.

 

E.I.Addio, McDog and Gaz failed to show then?

 

we were there.
but threw you being with Farnham Red as well

Where were you sat?

 

I am able to confirm the presence of...

...the rude bloke, the short bloke, the grumpy bloke and indeed the urinal loiterer herself.

Nice to meet you all.

 

Cheers love...

shh about the urinal spying fetish