BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

An excellent 2-0 victory away at League One side Peterborough United completed pre-season proceedings for Paul Heckingbottom’s side. In a match the Reds dominated in large parts, goals from Josh Scowen and Stefan Payne were the difference. 

At the other end of the field, commanding defending from Marc Roberts and excellent goalkeeping from Nick Townsend ensured the Reds had a clean sheet to end their preparations with before beginning the Championship campaign at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The Reds began the half in attacking fashion, going close to gaining a scoring chance instantly following a dazzling run from new-signing Ryan Kent, who beat two Peterborough defenders before playing in Winnall, who couldn’t quite gather the ball in.             

Shortly after, the Reds had a succession of corners, coming close but last ditching defending denied an early goal. However, Paul Heckingbottom’s men weren’t to be denied for long as on the seventh minute Josh Scowen leapt highest in the box to head home Adam Hammill’s perfect free-kick!

The Reds then went from strength to strength and kept attacking. Kent and Hammill were swapping wings freely, and it was Kent who very nearly set up a second for the Reds when he picked out Hourihane on the edge of the box, but the Reds Captain saw his fierce left-footed drive tipped round the post by Alnwick in the Posh goal.

After Alnwick’s heroics, it was then the turn of Reds ‘keeper Nick Townsend. Gwion Edwards unleashed a thunderous shot heading towards the top corner, but Townsend flew to his left to turn it wide for a corner.

Just before half-time, Paul Taylor came close to levelling things for Peterborough as he crashed a right-footed effort against the bar following a short corner. 

Both teams began the second half with the same starting eleven that finished it, and it was the home-side who created the first chance. Shaquile Coulthirst - who had a relatively quiet first half – picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and powered an effort towards the top corner, but again Townsend dived brilliantly  to tip it round the post. 

After that initial wake-up call the Reds went up a gear and created a good chance of their own. Hammill had been causing the Posh back-line trouble all match and he ran through midfield before releasing the ball to Winnall, but the Reds top scorer from last season put his effort wide under pressure inside the box.

In a match that then became very stop-start due to free kick’s being awarded, both ‘keepers had to remain alert. Firstly, Townsend carried on his excellent form in the match by saving one-on-one from substitute Tom Nichols, before fellow substitute Mark Tyler saved superbly to deny Stefan Payne from close range, as we approached the end of the match.

There was still time for Payne however to get his goal, and it came from superb build-up play. Elliot Lee was patient in possession and picked out Yiadom on the right-wing in acres of space, before he then whipped in a cross which Payne met and powered past the ‘keeper to make it 2-0 to Heckingbottom’s men. The full time whistle was blown shortly after on an afternoon the Reds had played well and performed in all areas of the pitch!

Full Time: Peterborough 0-2 Barnsley