Kell and Reid completed the first half, both did okay but United dominating the game. Not sure of the score.
Half time 1-1 according to official site HALF TIME FROM OAKWELL BARNSLEY 1 (Beevor 39) SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 (Nix 30) BARNSLEY went in level at the break after a keenly fought opening half against a vastly experienced Sheffield United side. The Reds went close to opening the scoring with just six minutes on the clock as Richard Kell broke things up in midfield before finding Nicky Wroe in space down the right. The youngster sent a great ball over but Robbie Williams could not find the accuracy to put his free header past Phil Barnes. At the other end Kyle Nix hammered the ball over the top from 25 yards after the Reds defence had struggled to clear Michael Tonge's cross. Again the Blades were split open by a ball from right to left on 15 minutes as Nathan Jarman picked out Williams at the back post but this time the young full back rushed his shot and fired into the stand. Barnes was finally called into action on 27 minutes as Jarman rose highest to get his head onto Rhys Meynell's cross but his effort bounced safely through to United's keeper. The Blades were in front against the run of play on the half hour as Nix was given time on the ball and space to run into by Barnsley's retreating defence and the young winger curled a low shot past Scott Flinder's despairing dive. The visitors should have been further ahead four minutes later as Tonge burst into the area before his pull back scrambled its way through to Colin Marrison at the back post but the striker volleyed wide with just Flinders to beat. United got in again on 36 minutes as Jonathan Forte raced onto Simon Francis' pass but skipper Paul Reid was in the right place to make a great saving tackle. A wonderful through ball by Wroe set Tom Beevor away for the Reds equaliser on 39 minutes. Wroe's exquisite pass picked out Beevor's well timed run through the heart of the United defence and the Academy starlet kept his cool to round Barnes and roll the ball into an empty net. BARNSLEY: Flinders, Laight, Meynell, Reid, Atkinson, Kell, Harban, Wroe, Beevor, Jarman, Williams. Subs: Scarsella, Jordan, Holt, Potter, Loukes. SHEFFIELD UNITED: Barnes, Ashmore, Wright, Nalis, Francis, Horwood, Law, Tonge, Haidong, Forte, Nix. Subs: Roma, Annerson, Hill, Harper, Marrison.
from Official Site FULL TIME FROM OAKWELL BARNSLEY 1 (Beevor 39) SHEFFIELD UNITED 3 (Nix 30, Marrison 54 P, Nalis 80) BARNSLEY'S reserves youthful exuberance was no match in the end for experience and Sheffield United, with more than 1,200 first team appearance between them, eventually ran out comfortable winners at Oakwell. The Reds went close to opening the scoring with just six minutes on the clock as Richard Kell broke things up in midfield before finding Nicky Wroe in space down the right. The youngster sent a great ball over but Robbie Williams could not find the accuracy to put his free header past Phil Barnes. At the other end Kyle Nix hammered the ball over the top from 25 yards after the Reds defence had struggled to clear Michael Tonge's cross. Again the Blades were split open by a ball from right to left on 15 minutes as Nathan Jarman picked out Williams at the back post but this time the young full back rushed his shot and fired into the stand. Barnes was finally called into action on 27 minutes as Jarman rose highest to get his head onto Rhys Meynell's cross but his effort bounced safely through to United's keeper. The Blades were in front against the run of play on the half hour as Nix was given time on the ball and space to run into by Barnsley's retreating defence and the young winger curled a low shot past Scott Flinder's despairing dive. The visitors should have been further ahead four minutes later as Tonge burst into the area before his pull back scrambled its way through to Colin Marrison at the back post but the striker volleyed wide with just Flinders to beat. United got in again on 36 minutes as Jonathan Forte raced onto Simon Francis' pass but skipper Paul Reid was in the right place to make a great saving tackle. A wonderful through ball by Wroe set Tom Beevor away for the Reds equaliser on 39 minutes. Wroe's exquisite pass picked out Beevor's well timed run through the heart of the United defence and the Academy starlet kept his cool to round Barnes and roll the ball into an empty net. Nix was inches away from putting United back in front just five minutes after the restart when his free kick from 30 yards dipped just the wrong side of the post. Flinders was scrambling and would have got nowhere near the young winger's curling left foot effort. Three minutes later Lilian Nalis showed great composure under pressure from Meynell to play Forte clean through only for Flinders to take down the United striker in the area. It was a blatant penalty and Marrison rifled the spot kick under Flinders and into the net. Marrison was lucky to stay on the field just two minutes later as his leg breaker of a challenge on Stefan Holt was punished with just a yellow card. The Reds went close to an equaliser just after the hour mark when Jarman was been bundled to the ground 30 yards from goal by Simon Francis. Williams stepped up and it took a fine one-handed save from Barnes to deny him a memorable goal. Barnsley continued to press with Jarman firing over the top on 71 minutes but it was Unite who countered quickly to snatch a morale sapping third goal just nine minutes later when a great cross from the left by Marrison caught the Reds napping and Nalis managed to guide his header into the far corner. It was almost even worse on 88 minutes as substitute Adrian Harper was allowed to race into his area but his well-struck shot struck Flinders and bounced fortunately to safety. BARNSLEY: Flinders, Laight, Meynell, Reid (Holt 45), Atkinson, Kell (Loukes 54), Harban, Wroe, Beevor, Jarman, Williams (Jordan 70). Subs: Scarsella, Potter. SHEFFIELD UNITED: Barnes, Ashmore, Wright (Roma 77), Nalis (Hill 86), Francis, Horwood, Law, Tonge (Harper 77), Marrison, Forte, Nix. Subs: Annerson.
