BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

Barnsley held Scunthorpe United to a goalless draw in the Good Friday fixture at Oakwell.

A Reds side missing several key players restricted their visitors to a handful of chances but struggled to create against a compact Iron defence.

A rasping drive from former Red Jim O’Brien was the closest either side came to a breakthrough in the first half.  

Ivan Toney came closest for the Reds as his low cross was almost sliced into his own net by Jordan Clarke only to see the ball fizz passed visiting stopper Luke Daniels’ post.

Conor Hourihane’s blistering free kick forced a fine save from Daniels while Marc Roberts’ superb header was expertly turned away by the Scunthorpe stopper in a second half of few chances.

Josh Brownhill flashed a drive pas the post in stoppage time as the Reds held on to sixth spot in the table.

 

After a long spell of Barnsley possession, a fast break from the visitors saw former Red Jim O’Brien tee up Luke Williams who forced a good save out of Adam Davies after seven minutes.

Ivan Toney, who rejoined the Reds yesterday from Newcastle United, almost saw his low ball in turned into his own net by Jordan Clarke 10 minutes in.

O’Brien unleashed a thunderous drive from the edge of the area a quarter of an hour in which left Davies rooted but flew past the post of the Barnsley stopper.

Just before the half hour, Adam Hammill jinked his way into a dangerous position but found his route to goal blocked and Toney could not fire home the loose ball.

With 10 minutes to go to half time, Murray Wallace headed Jamie Ness’ corner into the ground but over the bar while Josh Scowen received a caution for a late challenge on Wallace.

Hammill again skipped past Clarke but Toney failed to direct his header on target six minutes before the break while O’Brien flashed an effort wide in the half’s final action.

 

Barnsley began the second half with much more vigour as Conor Hourihane’s powerful volley was turned away from goal by a brave block from a Scunthorpe defender.

Another surging run from Hammill came to nothing just before the hour while George Williams put in a stunning last-ditch challenge to prevent Tom Hopper opening the scoring moments later.

Marc Roberts received a booking for stopping Hopper breaking down the line before Williams curled a free kick just Davies’ post.

A smart free kick routine on 70 minutes saw Hammill set up Hourihane, whose blistering drive was tipped over the bar by Daniels while Roberts’ header from the following corner was again superbly turned away by the stopper.

Reds fans began to find their voices as more smart passages of play began emerge from Barnsley as Hourihane went close with a drilled low centre.

The remainder of the half petered out with Josh Brownhill’s stoppage time effort the closest either side came to a winner for the 10,122 fans in attendance.