Hecky 'Good Reaction'
Subs not used: Biggins.
Reds: Chadderton, Alderson (Ngoma 82), Smith, Moore, Freeman, Shillito, Alexander-Salmon, Abbott (Cooke 80), Oates, Sousa, Maris (Williams 75).
Academy Under 18s Coach Paul Heckingbottom told barnsleyfc.co.uk, “That was a good reaction to last week’s game. The lads were really positive after we conceded and we played some really good football – scoring goals of really high quality.”
A fourth was added on 78 minutes as Shillito sent home into the bottom-right corner after exchanging neat passes with Alexander-Salmon.
After the break it was very much a case of ‘as you were’ for the young Tykes who strolled around the park with confidence and passed with precision.
Just before the final whistle blew, the Reds extended their lead with a terrific headed goal from Oates for his second. Omari Alexander-Salmon wrapped his foot around a right-wing cross that Oates met 12 yards out to nod into the bottom corner.
Alexander-Salmon pulled off an audacious attempt with a back-heel from 12 yards that made Preston pull off a top save to his right on 39 minutes.
Despite a new lease of life breathed into the visitors, Barnsley bounced back and took the game to City with some incisive passing and slick movement. It could have been all square had Hales not squandered his one-on-one. Again City blazed another one-on-one, this time O’Neil dragged wide after being put in down the centre.
Blues responded with an expertly despatched free-kick taken short to Adams who smashed past Chadderton from 25 yards.
However, Shillito made amends just over a minute later when he found Oates in the box and the tall striker prodded home from ten yards.
Five minutes later an Abbott delivery from the right was powered down by the head of Shillito but sailed just wide. With half an hour gone Shillito had a wonderful chance from the spot to double his side’s lead after Alderson was hauled down in the area but Callum Preston pulled off a smart save to his right.
Erico Sousa created the Reds’ first on 15 minutes after rescuing the ball from a cleared corner – sending the ball to the far post for Maris to pounce at the far post.
In fairness the first half could have ended four-all but for some woeful finishing from the visitors
The Reds’ Under 18s put in a tremendous display at Oakwell’s Academy – capped with an emphatic 5-1 score-line in what was an entertaining affair.
Birmingham City U18s 1 (Adams 35)
Barnsley U18s 5 (Maris 15, Oates 29, 42, Shillito 78, Alexander-Salmon 85)
