Reds held but deserved more
Reds 1 (Dawson 73)
Ipswich Town 1 (Cresswell 6)
Barnsley huffed and puffed against a camped-in Ipswich side but couldn’t find a deserved winner against the Tractor Boys who were delighted with a point.
Stephen Dawson did claim his first Barnsley goal and in spectacular fashion, a fine volley on the takedown from a Mellis delivery handed his side the leveller.
Ipswich were presented with an early opportunity from a set-piece on six minutes, and they made it count. Ben Alnwick probably should have done better, but Cresswell’s deceiving effort crept past the Reds goalie.
Daryl Murphy was next to test his shooting boots but only found Alnwick from 20 yards on the turn, the Reds were yet to test Loach at the other end with 18 minutes gone.
Barnsley’s first effort came on 20 minutes when Dagnall got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the box, but could only strike left-footed straight at Loach.
When the Reds seemed in at the other end with Dagnall’s delivery causing bother, Ipswich sprang up the other end with Scotland who then set up Martin to fire over the bar from 25 yards.
Hill’s men built up some momentum on the half-hour mark, but Davies struck low and wide from 25 yards after some patient build-up play down the left.
When Ipswich failed to clear a corner, Stephen Foster thought he had clawed back a leveller but the referee deemed his challenge on Loach a foul, much to Flitcroft and the crowd’s anguish.
Second half
Seven minutes after the break, Higginbottom went close with a header from an out-swinging corner, the Reds were in need of some impetus in attack.
John Stones was introduced for Tom Kennedy at right-back, moments before Dagnall just couldn’t connect his header to a Mellis delivery. Craig Davies bent a free-kick wide from 25 yards – the Reds faithful were backing their team to find a way back into the match.
On the hour mark the reds were millimetres from the leveller. Davis slipped Dagnall into the area, and despite being at such an acute angle, he managed to curl towards the far stick but his neat effort cannoned off the post.
Stones flew down the right wing before delivering a peach of a cross which was agonisingly just too high for the head of Dagnall. Barnsley were building up a head of steam and looked certain to score soon.
Another Barnsley-born youngster came on with 66 minutes played, Danny Rose replaced Chris Dagnall in attack.
It just wasn’t going Barnsley’s way when Mellis placed a wicked cross in between goalkeeper and defence for no red shirt to latch onto with the goal gaping on 68 minutes.
Finally Barnsley breakthrough came and they deserved it. It was a great strike and a first Reds goal for Stephen Dawson, created by an incredible pass from Mellis to the right channel and Dawson chested before volleying into the top corner from an acute angle on 73 minutes.
Barnsley were after the winner, and Danny Rose was only thwarted by some last-ditch defending when a cross fell into his path.
Ellington blazed a free header from a right-wing delivery on 79, Ipswich were now looking for a goal themselves after being camped in their own half since their opener.
On 81 minutes Danny Rose tried for a spectacular flick from a Davies cross but failed to make a true connection. Moments later Davies blasted a ferocious effort at goal which Loach parried, Barnsley were all over Ipswich.
Dawson forced Loach into yet another save away to his top-left hand corner. The Reds were turning the screw and look deserving for the winner.
Mellis combined well with Golbourne in stoppage time, his delivery was laid off by Rose to Davies but Loach was equal to his low drive.
A glorious opportunity then came for Cywka with a free header in the area, but he glanced Mellis’s delivery over from eight yards.
It was a great second-half performance from the Reds who certainly deserved more than just a solitary point.
Teams.
Reds: Alnwick, Kennedy (Stones 56), Golbourne, Foster, Wiseman, Dawson, Cranie, Cywka, Dagnall (Rose 66), Mellis, Davies.
Subs: Steele, Perkins, Etuhu, Harewood, Done.
Ipswich: Loach, Cresswell, Chambers, Higginbottom, Edwards, N’Daw (Ainsley 52), Martin, Scotland (Ellington 62), Drury, Hyam (Luongo 46), Murphy.
Subs: Emmanuel-Thomas, Lee-Barrett, Smith, Murray.
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Att: 8, 571 (553 away)
Man of the Match (Chosen Jason Oliver): Stephen Dawson.
