Barnsley produced a magnificent display to thump Morecambe 5-0 on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One.
Devante Cole bagged a brace, while Herbie Kane and Bobby Thomas also found the target in a resounding victory as the Reds responded superbly to the midweek defeat at Exeter City.
Facing a Shrimps side who had won just once on the road all season, it was a fixture that Michael Duff’s team went into as firm favourites having claimed maximum points from the past six outings at Oakwell.
It’s an encounter that soon went to form, with the Reds racing ahead inside four minutes as Luca Connell’s driven strike proved too hot to handle for Connor Ripley and Cole gobbled up the rebound.
Galvanised by that fine start, Barnsley continued to press forward in search of a second, and it duly came midway through the half when Jordan Williams’ low cross was bundled into his own net by the unfortunate Dynel Simeu under pressure from Max Watters.
Two soon became three just after the half hour mark as Mads Andersen surged forward and caused chaos in the Morecambe backline, with the ball eventually falling to Kane who showed great composure to clinically arrow into the bottom corner.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 3-0 Morecambe
Within eight minutes of the restart, we had a fourth – and what a goal it was! Williams played a lovely weighted through ball that and Kane left with a clever stepover, and Cole gleefully tucked home his second of the game.
Our number 44 had the bit between his teeth as he searched for a first career hat-trick and forced Ripley into a fine save up to his left before firing wide of the upright with his next attempt.
The visitors looked to try and salvage some sort of consolation from a dismal afternoon, and Dan Crowley came agonisingly close with a curling effort that cracked off the post.
As stoppage time ticked away, Josh Benson whipped in a deep corner that was nodded in at the back post by Thomas as we recorded our biggest win of the campaign and put the cherry on the cake.
It’s now seven wins from seven at fortress Oakwell as we keep pace with the frontrunners in the race for promotion.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 5-0 Morecambe
REDS XI: Isted (GK), Williams, B Thomas, Andersen (C), Kitching, Cadden (Larkeche, 69), Kane (J Benson, 56), Connell (Russell, 56), L Thomas (Phillips, 56), Cole, Watters (Tedic, 64).
Not used: Collins (GK), Norwood.
MORECAMBE XI: Ripley (GK), Love (C), Gibson, Rawson (Austerfield, 76), Crowley (Mayor, 75), Stockton (Hunter, 76), Weir, Bedeau, Niasse, Soure, Simeu.
Not used: Smith (GK), Delaney, Watts.
