Professional U23 Development League 2
at Oakwell Stadium (Training Ground)
Barnsley (2) 4
Kayden Jackson 12, 43
Adam Jackson 71
George Moncur 89
Birmingham City (0) 0
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| Photo credit: Barnsley FC |
Barnsley:
Townsend (GK); Wardle, Lund, A.Jackson, Dolan; Carvell (Charles '71), Palmer (Wolfe '82), Moncur, Hedges; Patrick, K.Jackson.Unused subs - Walton (GK), Proctor, Saeed.
Birmingham City:
Trueman, Harding, Baba (Lakin, 60), Mulders, Seddon, Storer, Bainbridge (T), Arthur (McCoy, 70), McDonald, Lubala, Hale (Timms, 80).
Unused subs - Weaver, Kwiecien.
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| Photo credit: Sports Interactive Community |
Indeed it was.
With a shade more luck, the visitors could've gone in level at half time, but they were hit by a quick counter attack after being a fraction away from drawing level, after Kayden Jackson had given the Tykes the lead after twelve minutes, when Louis Wardle's ball into the area found Ryan Hedges, who headed the ball into the path of (K) Jackson, who was onside, in spite of the visitors defence seemingly stopping to wait for him to be flagged off, and finished well from close range.
Laws of the game, part one: Play to the whistle.
Blues keeper Connal Trueman kept out Hedges shot a few minutes later and thwarted Omari Patrick twice, with two great saves. He was in for a busy afternoon.
With half time approaching, Nick Townsend turned Wes Macdonald's well struck effort against the bar and Adam Jackson was on hand to clear the ball off the line as Steve Seddon latched onto the loose ball from the rebound.
Barnsley quickly switched play from one end to the other and James Carvell hooked the ball forward to (K) Jackson, who sprinted forward and calmly found the back of the net Trueman advancing from his line and no doubt wondering where his defence had cleared off to..
HT: Reds 2 v Blues 0
Having been suitably impressed by Birmingham's new signings on Saturday in their first team game, I was looking forward to seeing Dan Scarr in action today, who they recently picked up from Stourbridge. But he'd taken a knock in training and didn't travel to Oakwell.
Hedges continued to impress for Barnsley, taking an awkward ball from Moncur under control, before testing Trueman again, who tipped the lively Reds front man's half volley over the bar at full stretch.
Wes Harding looked comfortable on the ball for Birmingham and Macdonald saw another effort crash against the bar. It wasn't to be for the visitors today, whereas their hosts will be happy with the final scoreline, that was probably a bit harsh on Richard Beale's side... but Barnsley took their chances well when they came along, so fair do's.
He may have shipped in four goals today, but the Birmingham City keeper was probably the visitors man of the match. His defence for their part will no doubt learn from their mistakes.
Moncur picked out his captain, Adam Lund, with a defence splitting cross and Blues breathed a sigh of relief as he turned the ball against the upright from a good position.
But Moncur's next venture forward led to Barnsley scoring their third goal, as his cross was diverted into the net by (A) Jackson.
The home side finished the game with a flurry... and Moncur netted the goal his efforts had deserved from just outside the area, after a good passing move from Wardle and Hedges on the right hand side of the Reds attack
FT: Barnsley U23 4 v Birmingham City U23 0
