Shrewsbury Town 2 (Davies o.g. 7, Clark 90+4)
Barnsley saw a point slip agonizingly through their fingers as former Tyke Jordan Clark’s injury time winner ended the Reds’ unbeaten home league record.
The visitors opened the scoring as Adam Davies punched Liam Lawrence’s corner into his own net but the Reds levelled before the break as Sam Winnall swept home from the edge of the area.
Conor Hourihane and Marley Watkins both struck the woodwork for Barnsley but Clark’s strike with seconds remaining ensured it was the Shrews who left with all three points.
The visitors made the early running with Matt Tootle firing into the side netting and Abu Ogogo heading over a Liam Lawrence corner inside the opening three minutes. Conor Hourihane’s excellent run on five minutes was unfortunate not to be matched by a finish of the same quality, his 20-yard effort fizzing just wide of the mark.
The scoring was opened on seven minutes by the visitors. Lawrence’s corner caused confusion in the box and the ball crept over the line via the glove of Adam Davies.
Barnsley rallied well with Dan Crowley bending an effort just over the bar on 13 minutes, while Marley Wakins forced Jayson Leutwiler into a smart save after cutting in from the right-hand side 18 minutes in.
On 21 minutes, Hourihane unleashed a low 25-yard drive towards the bottom corner, only to see the post deny him his second goal of the season.
Sam Winnall rose to meet Hourihane’s corner but saw his effort rise over the crossbar while Hourihane’s dipping 30-yard volley failed to test Leutwiler with 28 minutes played. Just past the half-hour, Watkins broke clear down the right and unselfishly squared to Winnall.
He was unable to finish but the ball broke kindly to Watkins who struck the outside of the post. Barnsley’s pressure tolled on 38 minutes as Watkins slipped in Winnall and the striker caressed the ball home from 20-yards to level the scores.
Hourihane was cautioned for a foul on Jordan Clark and Ben Pearson was booked for a strong challenge on Junior Brown in stoppage time at the end of the half.
Second Half
Shrewsbury came close to taking the lead at the start of the second-half as Lawrence burst through but failed to test Davies while Larnell Cole received a caution for tripping Josh Scowen.
Jordan Clark lashed wide of the target from the edge of the box on 54 minutes and three minutes later, Lewin Nyatanga hooked an effort at goal, only for Leutwiler to gather his audacious effort.
Just before the hour, Junior Brown danced in from the left for the visitors but sent the ball flying post the top corner of Davies’ goal.
Possession continued to exchange feet until the 76th minute when Winnall headed Kadeem Harris’ corner just over the top while both Harris and Josh Scowen saw powerful goal-bound efforts blocked by Ellis and Knight-Percival respectively.
Davies produced a world class save eight minutes from time to deny substitute Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro heading home from point blank range. Lawrence could not double Shrewsbury’s tally two minutes later as he sliced wide of the mark from the edge of the area.
Harris came close to finding the winner three minutes from time but drove the ball over from inside the box. Clark came close to winning it after jinking into the box but his outside of the foot shot skimmed the side netting on its way out of play.
Clark was to have the last laugh in the final minute of stoppage time. He turned inside the area after charging towards goal before his tame low effort cruelly deflected off Roberts - inflicting Barnsley’s first home league defeat since April.
Teams
Reds: Davies, Wabara, Roberts, Mawson, Nyatanga, Watkins, Pearson, Scowen, Hourihane (M. Smith, 70’ ), Crowley (Harris, 70’ ), Winnall.
Subs: Townsend, Bree, G. Smith, Jackson, Rothwell.
Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Grandison, Ellis, Knight-Percival, Tootle, Lawrence, Wesolowski (Cole, 16’ ), Ogogo, Brown (Sadler, 66’ ), Barnett (Akpa-Akpra, 77’ ), Clark.
Subs: Collins, Whalley, McAlinden, Halstead.
Attendance: 8,630 (437 Shrewsbury)
