Barnsley secured a 2-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers at Oakwell on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Devante Cole and Josh Martin were enough to secure all three points from an encouraging display as we picked up a first Sky Bet League One win since the start of the month.
Despite our early dominance, it took quarter of an hour to make the breakthrough, and it came after some excellent work from Jordan Williams as he latched onto a ball over the top before hooking a perfect cross onto the head of Cole to power into the corner.
The Reds had a good chance for a second shortly after when Liam Kitching’s raking cross-field ball found Williams once again, who in turn cut it back for James Norwood. He was unable to get any purchase on his effort before Cole saw his attempt blocked from inside the six-yard box.
On the half hour mark, Josh Benson clipped a ball up for Nowrood, who cushioned it down beautifully into the path of Herbie Kane, but the midfielder side-footed narrowly over from the edge of the box.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Forest Green Rovers
We started the second half brightly and had a good early opportunity when Kitching burst into the area and pulled it back for Benson, who appeared to be bundled over as he shot straight at Lewis Thomas.
Kitching was involved once more moments later when he played a one-two with Norwood before forcing Thomas into a decent save at his near post.
Such was the Reds’ dominance of the contest, there were sarcastic jeers from the away end when Harry Boyes dragged a bobbling effort wide of Brad Collins’ post six minutes after the restart.
The ever-impressive Williams almost got his name on the scoresheet when he ghosted in at the far post to meet Nicky Cadden’s deep cross, only to see his low strike deflect wide. From the resulting corner, Kitching’s header was blocked on the line as Barnsley searched for the killer goal.
Norwood was next to go close as he surged beyond Corey O’Keeffe and down the left flank and cut inside before blazing an effort into the Ponty End.
Midway through the half, Cadden again turned provider when he picked out Cole, who forced another good stop from Thomas, while Kitching steered a header wide from Williams’ inch-perfect delivery.
Against his former club, Cadden was wreaking havoc and put another inviting ball into the box that Norwood got a toe to as Thomas thwarted him from point blank range.
The second goal eventually came as we soaked up some rare Forest Green pressure and launched a swift counter-attack, with Cadden playing through Slobodan Tedić, who unselfishly cut it back for fellow substitute Martin to notch his first league goal of the campaign.
It was no less that the Reds’ excellent attacking play deserved, and the points were sealed on a comfortable afternoon as we got back to winning ways with a fine performance.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 2-0 Forest Green Rovers
REDS XI: Collins (GK), Williams (Cundy, 78), Edwards, Andresen (C), Kitching, Cadden, Benson (Jalo, 86), Connell, Kane (Phillips, 78), Norwood (Tedić, 78), Cole (Martin, 79).
Subs: Walton (GK), Larkeche.
FGR XI: Thomas (GK), O’Keeffe, Bernard, Cargill (C), Hendry, Boyes (Fiabema, 68), Wickham (Matt, 68), Marques, Peart-Harris (Little, 58), Bunker (McAllister, 57), March.
Subs: Burnett (GK), Casey, Robertson.
