Barnsley claimed a hard-fought victory over Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.

Max Watters opened his account early on before a Jordan Williams blockbuster after the break secured all three points against a lowly U’s side.

The win was made even more impressive given that we had to play for almost an hour with ten men following Watters’ dismissal for an elbow on Lloyd Jones.

In terms of goalmouth action, the first half was less than eventful, with the only real opportunity coming in the opening exchanges – and it was duly converted by Watters for his first Reds goal. Liam Kitching launched a trademark diagonal ball that Devante Cole expertly controlled before forcing Dimitar Mitov into action, but the Cambridge stopper could only palm it into the path of Watters who had the simple task of tapping home from six yards.

Chances were few and far between after that, with debutant Harry Isted untroubled by the visitors, who occasionally threatened to exploit the pace of Sam Smith in behind our backline.

There was one moment of real incident, though, towards the end of the half, as Watters was shown a straight red card, bringing his home debut to a premature end.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Cambridge United 

Michael Duff utilised his bench at the interval, introducing James Norwood and Jon Russell, while also switching to a back four as Adam Phillips and Nicky Cadden made way.

The visitors again looked to use the directness of Smith, with the forward eventually denied by a last-gasp Williams tackle just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Midway through the half, we doubled our lead through a moment of brilliance from Williams as he superbly volleyed home from 20-yards after Cambridge failed to fully clear a corner.

As the U’s pushed forward in search of a way back into the encounter, Isted was eventually called into action, making a fine save to thwart Smith’s bullet header from close range.

Barnsley saw the contest out with minimal fuss, defending stoically and repelling every Cambridge attack to make it three wins from four and consolidate our place in the top six.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2-0 Cambridge United

REDS XI: Isted (GK), Williams, B Thomas, Andersen (C), Kitching, Cadden (Russell, 46), Kane, Connell (Cotter, 87), Phillips (Norwood, 46), Cole (Larkeche, 87), Watters.

Not used: Searle (GK), Martin, Shaw.

CAMBRIDGE XI: Mitov (GK), Williams (Tracey, 71), Digby (C), Jones, Ironside (Worman, 72), Smith, R Bennett, Morrison, McGrandles, Knibbs, L Bennett (Haunstrup, 72).

Not used: Mannion (GK), Okedina, Hoddle.