[BFC SITE] Reds get off the mark in Sky Bet League One

Goals from Sam Cosgrove and Marc Roberts secured a 2-1 victory for Barnsley FC over Lincoln City at the LNER Stadium, to provide Darrell Clarke with his first league win as Reds’ Head Coach.

The Reds had their first chance in the 2nd minute, when a diagonal ball from Barry Cotter found Donovan Pines surging into the Lincoln half. Sam Cosgrove received the lay off from Pines, but was unable to hit the ball cleanly, and it trickled to Max Watters, who was denied by a defensive clearance before he could get his shot on target.

This positive start buoyed Barnsley, and after 13 minutes, they broke the deadlock. After excellent buildup play from midfield, the ball fell to Cosgrove in the eighteen-yard box, and the Reds’ number 9 hit a curling finish in space past Lincoln ‘keeper George Wickens, to open the scoring.

As the half progressed, the Reds continued to press well and dominate in possession, employing a consistent high press which kept the home side at bay. They came close to doubling the scoreline 30 minutes into the game, when a Cotter long throw into the area met the head of Pines, who directed the ball goalwards with an angled header, only to be denied by a deflection off an opposition defender.

However, the home side were not short of chances themselves, and five minutes later, they executed a counterattack which saw forward Jovon Makama one-on-one with Gabriel Slonina. The Reds ‘keeper, who saved two penalties in the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Wigan Athletic, turned hero once more, displaying quick reflexes and pulling off an excellent save from close-range to deny Lincoln an equaliser.

Barnsley almost produced a second goal after 42 minutes, when Josh Earl rose highest in the area, responding to a corner kick. However, the left wing-back was unable to control his header, and saw it cleared by an opposition defender.

Seconds later, Cosgrove came close to securing a brace, when he responded to a long ball from defence, narrowly being beaten by the catch of the Lincoln shot-stopper, ensuring that the Reds went into half time with a one-goal advantage, and looking good value for their lead.

HALF TIME: Lincoln City 0-1 Barnsley FC

Barnsley picked up in the second half where they left off, and scored their second goal of the afternoon two minutes after the restart. Taking a short free kick from 25 yards out, the ball came to Cotter, who drove into the box, crossing into the path of Roberts, who headed the ball into the net from the centre of the area, for his first goal in a Reds shirt since returning to Oakwell last month.

The Reds continued to look composed throughout the first twenty minutes of the half, holding a strong defensive line which was able to hold off any potential Lincoln counter attack, with the home side’s most notable chance coming in the 62nd minute, when Roberts put in an excellent tackle in the box to deny Makama an opportunity to score.

However, the Reds were unable to hold off the opposition attack for the entirety of the half, and in the 70th minute, Lincoln were able to pull one back, with forward Ben House receiving the ball from a corner kick, and hitting it at close-range to beat Slonina.

Barnsley battled hard following the home side’s goal, and almost produced a third goal themselves in the 77th minute, with Adam Phillips picking up the ball in midfield and delivering an excellent pass into the feet of Cotter, who ran into the ball and hit an angled shot which took a deflection off an opposition player and went out of play.

The Reds’ defence held firm and were able to successfully keep Lincoln at bay for the remainder of the contest, in spite of a late opposition push for an equaliser, to secure a well-fought first league win of the season.

FULL TIME: Lincoln City 1-2 Barnsley FC

BARNSLEY: Slonina, Cotter (Lofthouse, 78), De Gevigney, Roberts, Pines, Earl, Craig (Russell, 56), Connell, Phillips (Gent, 88), Watters (Marsh, 56), Cosgrove

Subs not used: Killip, O’Keeffe, Lopata

Attendance: 9,768 (1,845 Away)

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