Barnsley Under-23s secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season after edging out Sheffield Wednesday Under-23s in the South Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough.
Panutche Camara poked the Reds ahead eight minutes in but the hosts levelled when Jack Stobbs bent the hosts level in spectacular fashion.Barnsley could have fallen behind on the stroke of half time when Tim Brown upended Devante Rodney in the area, but Brown prevented the Wednesday striker from 12 yards.
Half time substitute Romal Palmer spectacularly volleyed home what proved to be the winner within five minutes of entering the action, latching onto Dylan Mottley-Henry’s excellent cross.
George Hirst and Connor O’Grady spurned late chances to level, the latter was superbly kept out by Brown as the Reds clung on for a crucial three points.
A blistering start from the Reds gave them a sight of goal with only 50 seconds on the clock as Dylan Mottley-Henry charged clear down the right and after a spot of pinball, Ryan Williams sliced wide of the mark.
Williams had another chance moments later after manufacturing himself a yard of space on the edge of the area but fired wide of the target.
He was involved in the move that gave the Reds an eighth minute lead against the Owls.
A surging run down the right from Mottley-Henry gave him the chance to centre. Williams sliced his contact but the ball fell perfectly for Panutche Camara to poke home from close range.
The Owls upped their bid for an equalizer but found the door slammed in their face as they tried to find a foothold in the match.
Against the run of play, they bagged a fortuitous 20th minute leveller as Jack Stobbs drifted inside from the left flank and his cross-come-shot flew out of the reach of Tim Brown and into the far corner.
A dangerous free kick from Stobbs flashed across the face of goal and forced an excellent save from Brown before Camara stung the palms of Wednesday goalkeeper Jake Kean from the edge of the area with a vicious drive.
Wednesday substitute Fraser Preston brought another excellent save out of Brown, who got down smartly to turn his powerful effort away from danger with George Proctor putting the ball behind.
Sean Clare was cautioned for scything down Williams 30-yards from goal and on the stroke of half time, the hosts were given a golden chance to take the lead in the contest.
Devante Rodney broke through the Reds defence and attempted to round Tim Brown, but he was brought down the stopper, who was cautioned for his actions, giving Wednesday a penalty.
Rodney dusted himself down but Brown redeemed himself with a fantastic save, pushing the ball away for a corner and ensuring both sides went in level at the break.
Half Time: Sheffield Wednesday U23s 1-1 Barnsley U23s
Senior professional development coach Paul Harsley replaced Jared Bird with Romal Palmer at the break, a change which reaped its rewards within five minutes of the restart.
Another charge down the right from Mottley-Henry culminated with an excellent cross the was met on the volley by Romal Palmer, who smashed beyond the helpless Kean.
Preston fired an effort just over the crossbar seconds later for the hosts but Mottley-Henry continued to torment the Wednesday left-back.
He broke past him again after a lapse in concentration from Claude Dielna, fired a low ball into the area which was met by Camara but his effort was blocked by Connor O’Grady.
Mottley-Henry fired a free kick straight at Kean from 25-yards with Wednesday’s George Hirst firing over from six yards, after being put under pressure by Callum Evans.
Yellow cards for Palmer and Wednesday replacement Charlie Hayford soon followed before Jake Charles teed up Ryan Williams 13 minutes from time, only for the winger to send his effort just wide of the top corner.
With two minutes remaining, a hopeful ball into the Reds penalty area was headed back across goal by Hirst into the path of O’Grady.
His header from six yards seemed destined for the roof of the net, only for the acrobatics of Brown to preserve three points for the Reds in the South Yorkshire derby.
Full Time: Sheffield Wednesday U23s 1-2 Barnsley U23s
Sheffield Wednesday: Kean, Centano, Thorniley, Murphy (Preston, 22’ ), Dielna (Hayford, 72’ ), O’Grady, Stobbs, Clare, Rodney (Hirst, 55’ ), Clarke, Penney.
Subs: Wallis, Percival.
Reds: T. Brown, Evans, Lawal, Kay, Rodriguez, Proctor, Mottley-Henry, Bird (Palmer, 46’ ), J. Brown, Camara (Charles, 68’ ), R. Williams.
Subs: Kebbie, Dolan, Ottley.
