Barnsley were held to a 1-1 draw by Port Vale at Oakwell on Tuesday evening.

Liam Kitching’s first half header was cancelled out late on by Ellis Harrison, as the spoils were shared in this Sky Bet League One encounter.

After a largely quiet opening period, Luca Connell tested Jack Stevens with a low drive from 25-yards that the visiting goalkeeper managed to tip around the foot of the post.

Herbie Kane then saw his shot deflect into the path of Jack Aitchison, whose follow up was blocked by the legs of Stevens as Barnsley began to gain a foothold in the contest.

Vale squandered a glorious opportunity of their own midway through the half as Ben Garrity headed over unmarked from six-yards after being picked out by Will Forrester.

At the other end, Devante Cole produced a neat turn before forcing another fine save from Stevens, while Mads Andersen headed wide following a well-worked set-piece routine.

The Reds continued to probe, and intricate work down the left flank worked space for Conor McCarthy to run into. The Irishman burst into the area and fired the ball across for Luke Thomas, who controlled well but blazed his effort over the bar.

Eventually, our pressure told just before the interval as Jordan Williams whipped in a fine cross to the back post for fellow wing-back Kitching to plant a powerful header into the bottom corner for his first Barnsley goal.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Port Vale

We began the second brightly – snapping into tackles and playing on the front foot – and almost doubled our lead when Thomas took aim from the edge of the box but flashed a curling shot narrowly over the bar.

Despite the Reds’ pressure, Port Vale still had openings and came close to levelling when Harrison’s attempt bobbled just past the upright.

Just after the hour mark, Barnsley won possession back on halfway and broke at pace. Kitching surged down the left flank and found Cole in the middle, but our forward was denied by a wonderful Stevens save from close range.

The game was becoming end-to-end, and Harrison had another gilt-edged chance for the visitors but could only steer his header wide when it appeared easier to score.

With seven minutes remaining, however, Vale found a way through and equalised when the ever-dangerous Harrison powered a header beyond Brad Collins.

Both teams pressed forward in search of an elusive winner, with the Reds coming close through Josh Martin’s long range effort that Stevens acrobatically tipped over in injury time, while Collins had to be at his best to deny Funsu Ojo with an equally impressive save moments later.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-1 Port Vale

REDS XI: Collins (GK), Williams, Cundy, Andersen (C), McCarthy, Kitching, Kane (Wolfe, 70), Connell, Thomas (Phillips, 81), Cole (Norwood, 80), Aitchison (Martin, 70).

Not used: Walton (GK), Edwards, Tedić.

VALE XI: Stevens (GK), Jones, Hall (Massey, 58), Smith, Worrall (Butterworth, 72), Garrity, Ojo, Forrester (Cass, 58), Odubeko (Wilson, 57), Harrison, Pett (C) (Politic, 73).

Not used: Stone (GK), Benning.