The Reds edge Wycombe in a game settled by another Woodrow double!
A Cauley Woodrow brace sees the Reds extend their unbeaten run to 12 games in Sky Bet League One.
A goal in each half for Woodrow helped his side move five points clear in the automatic promotion places ahead of Tuesday night’s game with Burton Albion.
Due to an injury to Kieffer Moore, Reds Head Coach, Daniel Stendel was forced to make a change to the starting XI that won at Gillingham last weekend. The Gaffer replaced the injured striker with Mike Bähre.
Despite a scrappy opening to the contest, the Reds were in control for much of the first half and settled well having scored early.
Wycombe striker Luke Bolton brought down Bähre in the box and the referee awarded Barnsley their third penalty of the season. Woodrow stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to put his side in front after just 11 minutes.
The Reds almost doubled their lead when Dani Pinillos was the quickest to react following a corner. Taking a touch on to his favoured left foot, he unleashed a thunderous strike that was heading for the top corner but for the intervention of Ryan Allsop in the Wycombe goal.
The visitors threatened just once in the first half when ex-Red Jason McCarthy’s cross found Nick Freeman inside the area, but he was superbly denied by Adam Davies.
Alex Mowatt had a good chance to make it two on the stroke of half time. The ball found its way to him just six yards out, but his goal bound effort was well saved by Allsop.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Wycombe
Gareth Ainsworth was forced into a substitution early in the second half after Luke Bolton received lengthy on the field treatment and this resulted in 10 minutes of added time.
Straight after the restart, the Reds doubled their lead. Substitute Ryan Hedges started a flowing move and found Jacob Brown on the wing, his low cross was smashed into the roof of the net by Woodrow to grab his second of the game.
Despite the two-goal cushion, Stendel’s side continued to attack as they went in search of a third goal. Brown’s deflected shot almost snuck in before his header from the resulting corner bounced narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
The game became stretched and opportunities began to come on the counter attack. Woodrow almost had his hat trick when he rose highest to meet a corner, but Allsop produced a smart reaction save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Tempers became flared as the game entered added time and following a strong challenge from Cameron McGeehan, Wycombe captain Adam El-Abd was shown a straight red card for his reaction.
Wycombe were awarded a dubious penalty with just seconds remaining and Joe Jacobson slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner to grab his side a consolation.
FULL TIME: Barnsley 2-1 Wycombe
Davies, Cavaré, Pinnock, Lindsay, Pinillos, Brown, Mowatt (Dougall), McGeehan, Thiam (Hedges), Bähre (Adeboyejo), Woodrow.
