[BFC SITE] REDS PROGRESS TO EFL CUP SECOND ROUND

Fixtures

• Barnsley Vs. Fleetwood Town - Wed, Aug 13 2025, 19:45

The Reds progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a victory on penalties against Fleetwood Town at Oakwell on Tuesday night.


It was the away side who fashioned the first chance of the game; a deep, whipped cross courtesy of Matty Virtue found Ched Evans with a yard of space, but the forward man could only direct his header into the thankful grasp of Murphy Cooper.

In the eighth minute, the Reds fashioned a chance of their own; some superb quick feet by Patrick Kelly saw him stride up the pitch before laying the ball to Caylan Vickers, who got the ball out of his feet and delivered a low, powerful strike that whistled just wide of the Fleetwood post.

On the fifteenth minute, the Reds took advantage of a bright spell and scored the first of the game. A teasing Reyes Cleary ball to the back post was impressively met by Jon Russell, and the Jamaican’s header proved too powerful and accurate for the Fleetwood goalkeeper.

Just moments later, the Reds looked sure to double their lead; some intricate play deep into the Fleetwood half resulted in Cleary pulling the ball back to Davis Keillor-Dunn, who took a touch but blasted his effort over the bar from close range. The Reds' pressure continued, and in the twenty-fifth minute, another good chance fell the way of Barnsley. Once again, Cleary delivered a pinpoint ball into the box, which was met by Keillor-Dunn, but his first-time effort was struck over the bar.

In the thirty-sixth minute, Fleetwood had a chance to level the score. A deep run from Virtue was spotted with a glancing header to set the midfield man in one goal, but he was off balance, and his effort was wayward.

On the stroke of half-time, the visitors were level; an in-swinging corner delivery from Liam Roberts evaded everyone in the box and snuck all the way in.

Half time: Barnsley 1-1 Fleetwood Town

The beginning of the second half brought little to no chances, but in the fifty-ninth minute, the Reds were back in front; a Reyes Cleary delivery across the box took a wicked deflection off a Fleetwood Town defender into the back of the net to put the Reds back ahead.

The trend of few chances in the second period continued, although the Reds showed some impressive spells, especially on both wings.

Reyes Cleary continued to look an extremely bright spark down the left-hand side. In the ninety-second minute the game was almost wrapped up for the Reds; Patrick Kelly slid Cleary through on goal. The forward man showed great pace, but from the effort, the angle proved just too narrow.

Not even a couple of minutes later, Fleetwood were level; the ball was smashed across the box, and Owen Devenport was in the right place at the right time to tap home from close range. With the score all level at full time, the game would be decided by penalties.

Full time: Barnsley 2-2 Fleetwood Town

Luca Connell was the first to step up to the spot, and his strike was arrowed into the top right corner. Ryan Graydon was the first penalty taker for the visitors, and his low strike to the bottom right was thwarted with an impressive step by Murphy Cooper.

Jon Russell stepped up next and coolly rolled the ball to the left side of the net, sending David Harrington the wrong way. Mark Helm was next up for Fleetwood, and his strike was put straight down the middle of the goal, as Cooper dived to the right. Neil Farrugia expertly struck his spot kick into the top right, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. Owen Devenport delivered an impressive spot kick, tucked right into the bottom left corner. Cooper guessed the right way but was beaten by the accuracy.

On his debut, Leo Farrell was next to step up; Harrington got a hand to his effort, but he was beaten by the power. Denver Hume had a big pressure penalty for the away side but kept his cool and buried his spot kick into the top right corner.

Patrick Kelly had the chance to win the tie for the Reds but agonisingly saw his effort cannon back off the bar to keep Fleetwood alive. James Norwood had to score his effort to keep Fleetwood alive, and he did just that; a powerful, accurate strike into the bottom right sent Cooper the wrong way.

Reyes Cleary was next for the Reds, and the winger produced a sensational strike into the top left corner. George Morrison had to score for the visitors to keep them in the tie, but his penalty was saved to the bottom right by Murphy Cooper to win the tie for the Reds and set up a second round clash against Rotherham United.

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