Despite adverse weather conditions and a harsh pitch, our U18s secured a 1-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on Tuesday afternoon.
Jonathan Bland’s strike late in the first half proved to be the decisive moment in the match as the young Reds returned to South Yorkshire with all three points.
Barnsley began the game with intent to open the scoring early, and Mylan Benjamin was the main architect as he tormented the Latics’ full-back consistently throughout the encounter, creating numerous opportunities within the first few minutes.
Midway through the half, Josh McKay was expertly picked out by Rogan Ravenhill following a long ball up the pitch. Our marauding wing-back burst into the box with pace before unleashing a powerful shot towards goal, but Matthew Corran in the hosts’ goal was equal to his effort.
Benjamin then forced Corran into two fine saves – first from a driving run into the area, then after jinking inside onto his right, only to see the Wigan stopper turn his strike onto the crossbar.
However, the Reds opened the scoring moments later as Bland was on hand to slam home from close range when the home defence failed to deal with a McKay cross.
Just before the referee blew for half-time, our U18s almost had a second, but Matty Doyle’s powerful header cannoned back off the upright after being expertly picked out by Hayden Pickard.
HALF-TIME: Wigan Athletic 0-1 Barnsley
Following the restart, the game descended into a scrappy affair as the skies opened, pelting hail stones onto the players and coaching staff. A quick attack from the Reds was the first chance of the half, as two very inviting balls into the box from Benjamin and McKay evaded everyone.
Both sides battled hard to make the most of their possession, with Wigan desperately looking to find the goal to bring them back into the contest. However, our young Reds held firm and denied the hosts from creating any clear cut chances.
Just before being substituted for Kallum Reid, Theo Chapman was agonisingly close to doubling our lead as he spectacularly broke into the box after beating his defender, but was thwarted by Corran, who was keeping the Latics in it.
Fresh from entering the fray, Reid almost made an instant impact after excellently dribbling beyond his man and bending a fine effort towards the far corner that Corran to clawed away.
As we entered the closing stages, Wigan thew everything forward in search of an equaliser and they almost got it with virtually the last kick of the game, but Ravenhill – barely tested throughout the encounter – remained focussed to deny Nathan Sandison down low from close range to ensure the young Reds claimed another priceless victory.
FULL-TIME: Wigan Athletic 0-1 Barnsley
REDS XI: Ravenhill (GK), McKay, Benjamin, Doyle, Joof, Pickard, Bland (C), Makiessi, Dyer, Chapman, Monteiro.
SUBS: Carter-Rogers (GK), Murchison, Yoganathan, Kozluk, Reid.