SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2 (Johnson 9, Gray 38)
BARNSLEY 2 (Butterfield 58, Macken 75)

BARNSLEY staged a stunning second half comeback to snatch a share of the spoils after a thrilling South Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough in front of more than 30,000.

Well a summer of downpours was over as the August sun beat down on Hillsborough. Football's back and the Reds could not have wished for a better or bigger opening fixture as they lined up to face the Owls. In came Anderson de Silva while Kayode Odejayi and Jon Macken led the attack against Wednesday. New boys Onome Sodje and David Preece were named on the bench alongside Iain Hume, who took his place amongst the new look seven subs.

Wednesday handed a debut to Darren Purse on the opening day while Francis Jeffers partnered Marcus Tudgay up front.

The noise level inside Hillsborough was deafening as the new season kicked off although both sides struggled to get a foothold in a frantic and scrappy start. A long punt forward by Lee Grant and an aimless header over the bar by Tudgay was the closest either side came to an opening three minutes.

The Reds had a big shout for a penalty waved away on five minutes as Martin Devaney's cross struck Tommy Spurr but it was always too close a decision to make for referee Anthony Taylor and the Cheshire official waved away the Barnsley protests.

Wednesday sprang into life on eight minutes as Tugday managed to get his head to Darren Potter's free kick deep in the Reds area. The ball fell nicely for James O'Connor but Luke Steele was in the right place to make a fine stop.

The home side snatched the opening goal just a minute later as Michael Gray's cross from the right somehow made it through to Jermaine Johnson and the winger scrambled a low shot through Steele and into the back of the net.

It was almost two on eleven minutes as Jeffers managed to get in behind Rob Kozluk to cross but Tudgay could not get his header on target from 12 yards under pressure from Darren Moore.

The Reds finally put the Owls under pressure on 14 minutes as Anderson's break onto Bobby Hassell's throw split the home defence but the Brazilian could not find a decent cross from the byline and Grant was able to smother. Barnsley went even closer on 16 minutes as Hassell's free kick fizzed through to Grant - it just needed a touch from someone to put it into the back of the net.

Wednesday were confident - a little too confident perhaps as Gray tried to beat Steele from 35 yards on 18 minutes with a free kick that flew well wide of the post. Barnsley responded with Odejayi making a nuisance of himself in the area on 20 minutes as he battled with Purse. The ball dropped to Macken on the edge of the box but the striker was denied a certain goal by Grant's outstanding save.

There chaos in the Owls box seconds later from Butterfield's corner. Anderson ended up in the book for a late challenge on Grant as the Wednesday keeper went to grab a dropping ball.

Spurr then somehow got away without a booking on 23 minutes as he practically hauled the shirt off Hassell's back as the Reds full back raced towards the area. Barnsley really ought to have been level from Butterfield's deep free kick as Anderson appeared unmarked at the back stick but planted a free header wide of the target. It was a golden opportunity for the Brazilian to drag his side back on level terms.

Wednesday went close again on 26 minutes and once more the danger came from the flanks as Gray sent one over from the right for Johnson to attack but the winger could not find the target from 16 yards.

Barnsley's afternoon could have gone from bad to worse on the half hour as Jeffers nipped around Stephen Foster and in on goal. The Reds skipper did the only thing he could do and clipped the striker to the ground just outside the box. It could have been a red but Barnsley were more than a little relieved when the referee brandished yellow.

Makcen really should have scored on 35 minutes s he raced onto a loose ball in the area before seeing his low drive well blocked away. Barnsley were incensed seconds later as Johnson sent Jamal Campbell-Ryce tumbling right on the edge of the box although it appeared as though the Reds winger was just inside the area. Nothing came of the free kick.

The Owls further pressed home their advantage just two minutes later as Spurr's long throw was touched on by Tudgay and Gray managed to get his head to the ball and plant it past Steele into the back of the net. Gray took the chance well but the Reds defence was statuesque as he attacked the ball from the right.

Barnsley struggled to get going up front in the first half although Butterfield's free kick on 42 minutes did put the Owls under pressure. In the end Anderson lashed one high over the bar from the edge of the box. Anderson then almost found the right pass to send Odejayi clean through on 44 minutes but Grant was quickly out of his goal to make a brave stop at the feet of the Reds striker.

A scrap in the heart of the Wednesday half between Odejayi and Purse gifted the Reds a fine chance on 50 minutes as the ball deflected off an Owls leg and put Macken clean through. The striker kept his shot down but saw his effort kicked away by Grant. From the corner Anderson could only head wide.

Wednesday were almost further in front seconds later as Johnson cut in well from the left before seeing his low drive strike Foster and bounce wide.

Hassell's long throw almost gave the Reds hope on 54 minutes as the ball bounced around in the Owls area. It eventually fell for Odejayi but the striker could only fire a difficult effort through a crowd and at Grant.

Barnsley grabbed their goal on 58 minutes and it came from the boot of youngster Butterfield. Hassell fired the ball over from the right and, as the Owls were caught napping, Butterfield was in the right place at the right time to ram it in at the back post.

Barnsley capped a fine second half come back on 75 minutes with a goal out of nothing. Odejayi beat Purse in the air to nod on Steele's long free ball past the Wednesday defence and Macken raced clear before finding the perfect finish to beat Grant from 12 yards.

The Reds suddenly found their feet and Anderson headed one over the bar on 80 minutes from Hassell's cross after good play by Bogdanovic and Butterfield.

Odejayi finally got a free kick up against Richard Wood on 82 minutes to give the Reds another chance to get a shot in on goal. Hassell took it and probably wished he hadn't as his effort smacked into the wall.

Wednesday could have won it on 86 minutes when Lewis Buxton found Potter on the edge of the box but Steele was quickly down to make a fine save. Johnson then saw one deflect away

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Grant, Spurr, Buxton, Purse, Tudgay, Jeffers (Esejas 70), Potter, Wood, O'Connor, Johnson (Beevers 87), Gray.
Subs: Hinds, Miller, McAllister, Simek, O'Donnell.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Moore, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Anderson, Butterfield, Devaney (Bogdanovic 75), Macken, Odejayi.
Subs: Preece, Hume, Sodje, Potter, Adam, Hibbert

REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Gary Hilton (Lancashire)
ASSISTANT REFEREE: William Smallwood (Cheshire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Kevin Hayward (Staffordshire)

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