[BFC SITE] Match Report | Reds vs Mansfield

The Reds were unable to make their 2024/25 league bow a winning one, as they lost 2-1 to Mansfield Town in a game where Darrell Clarke’s Reds impressed in large spells.

After a cagey opening ten minutes, where the Reds coped well under sustained pressure from the visitors, Mansfield took the lead in the 13th minute, when after a corner kick, the ball fell to Stephen Quinn, who hit a volley from twenty yards out to open the scoring.

The visitors doubled their advantage six minutes later, when after buildup play in the middle of the park, Lee Gregory received possession on the right-hand side of the box and converted from close-range.

Barnsley had their first real chance of the game in the 22ndminute, when Luca Connell hit a diagonal pass to Max Watters on the left flank. Watters drove into the box and forced Mansfield ‘keeper Christy Pym into a save from a tight angle. The Reds came close from a corner kick three minutes later, when Connell flicked a ball in the box on the head of Watters, who headed narrowly wide.

The Reds were evidently gaining momentum as the half wore on, and came close again in the 29th minute, when Adam Phillips laid off a pass to Connell in the area, who sprung a shot on the half-volley which was curled just past the post.

The breakthrough came through Connell three minutes later, when Phillips picked up the ball just over the halfway line, delivering a through ball into the box. The Reds’ captain responded first, with a bustling shot which deflected off an opposition defender and trickled into the net, to reduce the visitors’ advantage to one, and net the first goal of the Darrell Clarke era.

Barnsley nearly netted an equaliser just two minutes later, when Phillips hit a stunning shot in space from twenty-five yards out which forced a fingertip save from the Mansfield ‘stopper. And from the resulting corner, Watters came close with a shot from close to the penalty spot which was targeted wide of the crossbar.

It was the Reds’ forward who came close again in the 38thminute, picking up a Russell ball on the right-hand side of the pitch, diverting onto the right flank, and hitting an angled shot which threatened to trouble the opposition ‘keeper, but was directed out of play. And after this incredibly positive end to the first 45, Barnsley went into half time with a one-goal deficit, although they were not to be counted out.

HALF TIME: Barnsley FC 1-2 Mansfield Town

Barnsley picked up the half where they left off, with Sam Cosgrove coming close to a leveller with a free header from close-range just seconds after the restart, which was aimed mere inches from the target. Three minutes later, Corey O’Keeffe provided an opportunity with an excellent forward run and squared into the box for Jon Russell, however, his powerful effort was prevented with a last-ditch block from a Mansfield defender.

The Reds next had a chance at a equaliser in the 54th minute, when Connell hit a great shot from thirty yards out which was aimed just over the top right hand corner of the net. And a minute later, Watters managed to get through on goal with an outstanding forward run but was not able to control his shot and aimed it straight into the arms of the Mansfield ‘stopper.

Darrell Clarke’s men responded to this positive start to the half with a series of changes around the 60-minute mark, and it continued to pay dividends. In the 63rd minute, they came close once more, when Connell hit another clean shot in the area which was aimed wide.

After a relatively even fifteen-minute period played mainly in the midfield, Barnsley sprung into life once more in the 78th minute, with Kyran Lofthouse driving down the left flank and crossing into the box for fellow sub, Aiden Marsh, who managed to respond with a goalwards shot which forced the opposition keeper into a save.

Six minutes later, Marsh headed an incoming ball down in the area into the path of Sam Cosgrove, who promptly aimed his resultant shot over the bar. And in spite of a really positive second half, the Reds were unable to find that elusive equaliser.

FULL TIME: Barnsley FC 1-2 Mansfield Town

BARNSLEY: Killip, Roberts, De Gevigney, Earl, O’Keeffe (Cotter, 61), Gent (Russell, 27), Craig (Hourihane, 61), Connell (Lofthouse, 76), Phillips, Cosgrove, Watters (Marsh, 61)

Subs not used: Smith, Lopata

Attendance: 14,178

Player of the Match: Luca Connell

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