[BFC SITE] Reds win on the road at Shrewsbury

Barnsley FC extended their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One to three games, as goals from Jon Russell and Max Watters either side of half-time secured a 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow.

The Reds had their first chance of the game three minutes in, with Corey O’Keeffe making a piercing run down the right flank, beating two defenders before being denied on the edge of the area by an interception from the defender Nurse.

Darrell Clarke’s men came close again five minutes later, with a Luca Connell corner kick finding Marc Roberts at the back post, although the centre half was unable to head the ball cleanly, conceding a free kick. Watters almost produced an opener in the ninth minute, when he found space down the left and aimed for an open goal from just outside the eighteen-yard box, with the forward’s shot forcing Morgan Feeney into a goal line clearance.

Barnsley enjoyed most of the possession in the opening fifteen minutes of the contest, earning several corner kicks through a number of attacking outlays in the final third, although none of those were able to lead to goalscoring opportunities. After 19 minutes, Darrell Clarke’s men thought they had taken the lead when Watters managed to knock a Georgie Gent cross into the back of the net, however, he was denied an opening goal by the official’s flag signalling for an offside.

Two minutes later, Stephen Humphrys almost produced an opener with an attempt from distance which took a touch off his forward partner, Watters, and curled past the post. The Reds’ number 44 came close in the 22nd minute when he managed to break from midfield with a run into the box, but the forward was forced to shoot from a tight angle by his opposition marker, hitting the side netting with a powerful effort.

Darrell Clarke’s men continued to press for a breakthrough, with a floated left-wing cross from Gent briefly threatening the reaches of Shrewsbury goalkeeper Toby Savin after 27 minutes.

Barnsley then took the lead in the third minute of stoppage time, with the Reds’ skipper Connell hitting a cross into the box following a corner kick clearance, allowing Russell to smash home with an outstanding volley from close-range to open the scoring.

Shrewsbury came close to a leveller just before the end of the half, with Ben Killip diving excellently to deny an effort from distance by Tom Bloxham, to ensure that Darrell Clarke’s men went into half time with a one-goal advantage.

HALF TIME: Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Barnsley FC

The Reds doubled their advantage two minutes after the restart, with Watters receiving a ball from O’Keeffe and driving from the right flank, before cutting inside and rifling home past Savin from ten yards out.

The forward came close to sealing his brace in the 50th minute, using his pace to beat Feeney en-route to the box, where he forced a diving save from Savin with a powerful effort. Donovan Pines’ header from the resultant corner was directed towards goal, but was ultimately headed out of harm’s way by an opposition defender.

Nurse attempted to pull one back for Shrewsbury four minutes later, hitting a speculative effort from 35 yards out on the right which was comfortably collected by Barnsley ‘stopper, Killip. Shrewsbury also had a close-range attempt in the 62nd minute, with the midfielder Ojo bundling his effort well wide of the target.

Jon Russell produced a great opportunity for Darrell Clarke’s men in the 75th minute, with the midfielder making an excellent forward run into the area before squaring for Davis Keillor-Dunn, who was unable to reach the ball before it was cleared by an opposition defender. Marc Roberts also came close to scoring a third for Barnsley five minutes later, heading over the bar inside the area following a Reds set piece.

After a spell where play was largely constrained to the midfield, the Reds had a chance to score a third in the 92nd minute, when Davis Keillor-Dunn weaved his way into the area, before forcing a stop from Savin with a curling effort.

Barnsley were then able to see out the remainder of the half with ease, to secure a comfortable victory on the road.

FULL TIME: Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Barnsley FC

Barnsley XI: Killip (GK), Russell, Roberts, Pines, de Gevigney, O’Keeffe, Gent (Cotter, 63), Watters (Craig, 63), Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys (Jalo, 81), Connell (C) (Nwakali, 90+1’).

Subs not used: Slonina (GK), Lofthouse, McCarthy.

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