BARNSLEY 1 (Christensen 68)
LEEDS UNITED 0

IT was a long time coming but Kim Christensen finally got the Reds Pontin's Holidays League campaign up and running with the winner at Oakwell.

The Reds almost undone within two minutes when Tomi Ameobi danced his way through the Barnsley defence and broke clean in on Kyle Letheren but the young Welshman stood up well to deny the striker from close range.

At the other end Rohan Ricketts showed quick feet to beat a couple of players and get a shot away but his effort was always flying wide of Alan Martin's goal. Ricketts again got in on goal on nine minutes as he fired in from a tight angle and beat Martin but Tom Lees was in the right place to hack the ball away.

The Reds went even closer on 12 minutes following a scramble in the area after Jacob Butterfield's corner had dropped on the six-yard line. The ball eventually bounced goalward but Oliver Hodgkiss was in the right place to clear off the line.

United went close again on 15 minutes after Simon Madden had done well down the right and managed to dig out a decent cross. It fell nicely for Nathan Cartman but the youngster could not get his volley on target although his effort had Letheren scrambling.

Letheren was beaten on 19 minutes as Gavin Rothery raced forward and sent a fine shot arrowing towards the top corner but his effort just drifted wide at the last moment.

Miguel Mostto was an inch away from the opening goal on 21 minutes as he rose highest to meet Marciano Van Homoet's excellent cross but the Peruvian just could not direct his header goalward.

United found a yard of space in the Reds area again on 28 minutes as the ball broke to Ross Wilkinson but the midfielder could not keep his shot on target from 16 yards.

Van Homoet and Mostto combined well again on 33 minutes as the Dutchman sent over another fine cross from the right but this time his Peruvian teammate could only loop a header wide of the mark.

United enraged the home crowd on 34 minutes as they carried on playing after Letheren had felt the full force of Ameobi's challenge on the edge of the area. Winger Rothery looked to put the ball into an unguarded net from 25 yards even though the Reds keeper was prone on the pitch but the referee eventually blew as United's attack fizzled out.

United's physical play eventually led to a caution for Robert Bayly on 42 minutes although the Leeds midfielder talked himself into the book more than anything. United almost grabbed the lead a minute later as Madden did well to cross again from the right for Cartman on the volley but Letheren was well placed to save.

Leeds started the second half strongly and Lees had a good shout for a penalty waved away on 48 minutes as he was felled in the area.

A minute later Rothery brought an outstanding save from Letheren as he let fly. Wilkinson then saw a headed cleared off the line from Fabian Delph's corner.

Madden the got the wrong side of Luke Potter on 54 minutes to get a cross in but Delh could only shoot straight at Rob Atkinson when well placed at the back post. Rothery was in the thick of the action again a minute later as he brought another save from Letheren.

Barnsley responded with Mostto and Christensen breaking quickly on 56 minutes to send Ricketts through but the winger blazed his first-time volley high into the stand.

Another fine cross by Van Homoet had the Leeds defence all over the place on 63 minutes but neither Christensen nor Mattis could turn the ball into the net.Ricketts then got in on the act again on 65 minutes as he sent over a great ball for Christensen but the big Dane could only head straight at Martin from the edge of the area.

Barnsley finally got their goal on 68 minutes when Luke Fedorenko did well to free Mostto down the left hand side. The little Peruvian stood up a fine cross to give Christensen a simple header and his first strike in a Barnsley shirt.

The game was soured somewhat on 70 minutes when Mostto limped out of the action after picking up a hamstring injury.

Fedorenko then tricked his way past a couple of challenges on 73 minutes but fired wide of the mark from 20 yards.

It was almost two on 76 minutes as Christensen's cross fell invitingly for Jamal Adam but the young striker lashed his shot an inch wide of the post with Martin stranded.

BARNSLEY: Letheren, Van Homoet (Smith 87), Potter, Meynell, Atkinson, Butterfield, S. McGrory (Fedorenko 62), Mattis, Mostto (Adam 70), Christensen, Ricketts.
Subs: Free, Jennings.

LEEDS UNITED: Martin, Madden, Fisher, Bayly (Milne 75), Lees, Wilkinson, Rothery, Hotchkiss, Ameobi (Connor 63), Cartman, Delph (Ovington 68).
Subs: Edwards, Grace.