Oakwell AM Steve's Match Report

imported_Gally · Jul 26, 2005

Barnsley 2 (Williams 2)

Hull City 0

Two stunning goals by Robbie Williams gave Barnsley a comfortable 2-0 victory over Championship side Hull City in tonight's friendly at Oakwell.

Williams scored a goal in each half from his new left midfield position to bring his tally in pre-season to four goals from the Reds' four games.

There was a familiar look to the Barnsley side which was led out by captain Paul Reid. The only new face was Paul Hayes who took up his striking position alongside Danny Nardiello. Scott Flinders was given the full 90 minutes in goal, although after the game, manager Andy Ritchie confirmed that Nick Colgan will also play the full 90 minutes against Leeds on Saturday, giving the Reds' boss a proper chance to assess them both.

As he has in previous pre-season games, Tigers' manager Peter Taylor opted to play a different starting 11 in each half with a mixture of first-team regulars and squad players making up both of his sides.

That strategy came undone as the game roared into life in the first few minutes.

In the first 60 seconds nice interplay between Hayes and Nardiello gave the former Manchester United striker the chance to whip in a low cross which just evaded a lunge by Stephen McPhail inside the six yard box. 

The ball was cleared behind and from the resulting corner by McPhail, ROBBIE WILLIAMS raced in ahead of the defence to power a header past Matt Duke to give Barnsley the lead after only 100 seconds.

Danny Nardiello was again testing Duke in the Hull goal just a minute later before Hull had their first chance after only five minutes. A deep cross from the right found Kevin Ellison at the far post but his header was well pushed away by Flinders.

Moments later at the other end McPhail again stung the fingers of Duke as the keeper pushed over a long range effort from the Barnsley midfielder.

After the frantic early exchanges the game settled down and it was midway through the half when Hull missed the best chance of the game. Stuart Green put a cross into the Reds' area and Leon Cort rose unmarked ten yards from goal but put his header well wide when he should have done better.

As the game drifted towards half-time, Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke had a stroke of good fortune he may not have got in a league game. The keeper came to edge of his area to deal with a long ball forward aimed at Nardiello but stepped out of the penalty box with the ball in his hands. The referee's assistant flagged for handball but the referee sensibly decided to take no further action other than giving Barnsley a free kick. He was perhaps mindful that Duke's game would end a few minutes later anyway as Peter Taylor changed his team at half-time. Despite the excellent position Barnsley failed to take advantage as first McPhail and then Shuker failed to get shots on target.

The Reds had the last chance before half-time when Nardiello got free of the offside trap but as the defence re-grouped he checked inside and put a curling shot just past the far post.

Half-time

Barnsley 1 Hull City 0

While Peter Taylor sent out a new starting 11 for the second half, Andy Ritchie decided not to change his team at all for the second period.

Hull started much the brighter and should have equalised on 46 minutes. Stuart Elliott broke away down the right and his cross found Benson, who appeared to be offside. The flag stayed down but it didn't matter as Benson lobbed his shot well over the bar.

After Flinders dealt well with a low shot from distance by Allanson, Barnsley had their first chance of the half when Chris Shuker fired wide after finding space 20 yards from goal. 

Stuart Elliott again almost brought Hull back into the game on the hour mark as some nice trickery took him past both Tonge and Reid but Flinders was quickly out of his area to slide and take the ball away from the Tigers' striker.

Shortly afterwards Stephen McPhail was taken off as a precaution after he landed heavily while challenging for a header in midfield. Jacob Burns came on from the bench. 

As the half wore on both sides had chances from distance with Hayes having a shot well saved by Leite , Nardiello firing over the bar and Jacob Burns having one strike well saved and saw another flash just wide.

At the other end a Curtis Woodhouse shot was well blocked and Benson should have done better when he failed to get a shot on target when well placed in the penalty area.

On seventy minutes Andy Ritchie made a triple substitution as Wroe, Vaughan and Conlon came on for Reid, Carbon and Nardiello.

The changes had the desired effect and within seven minutes Barnsley get their second.

A long cross by Wroe led to confusion as Conlon, the Hull keeper and a defender all collided while going for the high ball. It could have been a penalty for the challenge on Conlon but the referee waved play on. WILLIAMS picked up the loose ball and turned away from a defender before rifling the ball past the man on the line.

Barnsley also had the last clear cut chance of the game as nice work by Hayes released Wroe into the penalty area. Unfortunately a lack of communication between the young midfielder and striker Barry Conlon meant the pair got in each other's way and neither got a shot in when clear on goal.

Full-time

Barnsley 2 Hull City 0

Barnsley - Flinders, Tonge, Reid (Vaughan 70), Carbon (Wroe 70), Austin, Shuker, McPhail (Burns 57), Kay, Williams, Hayes, Nardiello (Conlon 70).

Guest · Jul 26, 2005

Cheers City Tyke, I was just about to post them on here so you've saved me a job.

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