[BFC SITE] Reds fall to defeat at Stevenage

Three second half goals saw Barnsley FC fall to their first away defeat of the season, losing 2-0 to Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium.

The Reds looked positive in the opening minutes, with their first chance of the game coming in the third minute courtesy of Josh Earl. The left wing-back cut inside, picking up the ball on the edge of the area from Davis Keillor-Dunn, before hitting a powerful shot once inside the area which forced Stevenage goalkeeper, Murphy Cooper to come off his line and snatch at the effort.

Darrell Clarke’s men continued to put the home side under a great deal of pressure, employing a confident high press which saw most of the possession concentrated in the final third. This saw them come close again after 19 minutes, when Barry Cotter found space on the right flank to hit a whipped cross into the box, which was headed away by defender Piergianni before Luca Connell could get onto the end of it.

Three minutes later, it was Reds’ keeper, Gabriel Slonina’s turn to be hero, jumping at the feet of Jordan Roberts to deny the Stevenage forward a potential effort on goal following a counterattack. This preceded a period of sustained pressure for the home side, with the defensive trio of Donovan Pines, Mael de Gevigney and Marc Roberts remaining resolute to prevent any significant opportunities to open the scoring.

The Reds had a great chance to obtain an opener in the 29th minute, when a Keillor-Dunn free kick was headed away into the path of Barry Cotter. The wing-back ran past his marker before hitting an excellent right footed shot which was directed just wide of the post.

After a cagey fifteen-minute period, Barnsley burst into life on the stroke of half time, with Marc Roberts managing to get his head onto the end of a Luca Connell corner, forcing a save from the Stevenage ‘keeper. A follow-up corner was also headed goalwards by Sam Cosgrove, only being denied by a goal line clearance from an opposition defender.

This meant that the Reds went into half time goalless, but having displayed plenty of promise going into the second half.

HALF TIME: Stevenage 0-0 Barnsley FC

The Reds began the second half under some pressure from the opposition, with the forward Roberts managing to get through on goal following a long throw in from the right, being put off by the approaching Slonina and directing his effort over the bar.

However, the Barnsley number 1 was unable to stop Elliott List after 53 minutes, with the substitute picking up the ball in the area after another long throw, with the forward hitting a powerful finish from the right-hand side of the box, to open the scoring for Stevenage.

The home side doubled their advantage five minutes later, with Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni managing to score a free header in the centre of the eighteen-yard box, following a corner kick.

The Reds came close to pulling one back in the 61st minute when Fabio Jalo, making his first league appearance, hit a speculative shot on the edge of the area which was deflected by an opposition defender. The young forward also produced an excellent run into the area from the right flank, which was cleared by the Stevenage defence before Stephen Humphrys could pounce on the opportunity.

Jalo again burst in action after 69 minutes, picking up the ball on the right flank, before cutting inside and hitting a shot from close-range which forced a save from Cooper. Max Watters then came close with a header in space following a cross from midfield, but Piergianni rose to head the forward’s effort away from target.

As the game entered its closing stages, Jalo came close to opening his account for the season in the 77th minute, with a cross from the right wing which was directed just over the bar.

And despite a positive latter part of the half for the Reds, it was Stevenage who managed to score another with two minutes left to play, with Elliott List managing to break free of the Barnsley defence to secure a brace with a finish past Slonina, and ensuring that the Reds travelled back to S71 empty handed.

FULL TIME: Stevenage 2-0 Barnsley FC

Barnsley XI: Slonina (GK), Cotter (O’Keeffe, 45), Roberts, Pines (Watters, 45), de Gevigney, Phillips, Cosgrove (Humphrys, 62), Craig (Jalo, 62), Earl, Keillor-Dunn (Benson, 66), Connell

Subs not used; Killip (GK), Lofthouse

Continue reading...

 

I missed the match as remodelling our driveway. Can anyone explain the ‘three second half goals saw us lose 2-0’ please?

 

oh so we only lost 2-0 then? Not as bad as 3-0!!

 

I still don’t actually know the score! Was it 3-0? As it said 2-0 twice I thought the three second half goals comment was wrong.

 

Cracking reporting mate. I'm guessing you went home before the third?

 

We lost 3-0

 

Is that a fair and unbiased description of the game though ?.
It suggests we were actually the better and more attacking team, in a decent sounding first half.
I would have done the 'Tap' before kick off (taken a point), so I was ok with it being goal-less at half time.
But then after that, what on earth happened!!.

 

Thanks. I was going to click like but that didn’t seem right as I definitely don’t like the result, just the fact that you took the time to reply.