Our U21s breezed past Sheffield United with a tremendous 3-0 victory at Oakwell on Tuesday afternoon.
Tom Harban’s side claimed bragging rights in the South Yorkshire derby thanks to goals from Jasper Moon, Will Hondermarck and Fabio Jalo following an excellent display of football.
A fast start from the young Reds granted them a quick opening goal. An attack down the left wing from Jalo resulted in the ball being deflected into the path of Moon, whose positive run up the field from defence found him in space on the edge of the box. Our commanding centre back took his chance with a powerful curling effort, which was too much for Dylan Wharton to handle as it soared into the corner.
The Blades looked to find their way back into the game with various set-pieces. First, a free-kick routine appeared to have deceived the Barnsley back line, but Moon was alert to the danger and cleared for a corner. The resulting ball in was right on top of a crowd of players from both teams, but the final headed effort looped over the bar.
Midway through the half, Slobodan Tedić was the next player to look to score. The forward found himself charging into the box, but his right footed shot from a tight angle was somehow clawed away by Wharton in the Blades’ net.
Louie Marsh seemed certain to level the scores shortly before the break, only to be denied by a fine Jack Walton save.
Moments later, Will Hondermarck coolly gave the Reds their second of the game on the stroke of half-time as the wing-back found himself in space and confidently slotted past a helpless Wharton.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 2-0 Sheffield United
The second half started in a much calmer manner, with neither side able to create any clear cut chances, yet still looking to play positively. Despite the lack of opportunities, the Reds dominated proceedings, having most of the ball and using their possession positively.
On the hour mark Jalo nearly scored Barnsley’s third of the contest when a positive run up the left from Ziyad Larcheke led to a ball being played into the near post. Jalo, who wasn’t left with much time to adjust, opted for an acrobatic attempt with his back to goal, but he couldn’t find the target.
Jalo was in the thick of things once more as he intercepted a loose pass moments later, but was unable to get his shot away before a recovering defender could intervene.
However, he wouldn’t be denied next time when a blunt piece of defending from the Blades in the 75th minute gifted our U21s their third. A misjudged back pass to the keeper from Miguel Freckleton was pounced on by Jalo and he tapped home from close range to seal the victory.
The Reds had a tricky last ten minutes to face, even with their three-goal cushion. A heavy tackle on Larcheke from Owen Hampson led to a melee breaking out on the pitch. In the midst of the brawl, Moon was summoned by the referee and shown a second yellow card and promptly dismissed.
As time ran out, the visitors almost netted a late consolation, but Walton was again on hand to claw the ball away from danger, capping of a momentous performance from the man between the sticks and guaranteeing his team a clean sheet.
It ended a run of five games without a win for our U21s, lifting them off the foot of the Professional Development League table.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 3-0 Sheffield United
REDS XI: Walton (GK), Hondermarck, Larkeche, Lancaster (C), Moon, Trialist, Phillips, Nejman, Aitchison, Jalo, Tedić.
Subs: Cooper (GK), Ariely, D. Benson, Hartley, Butterfill.
