Barnsley were humbled by Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon, suffering a 5-1 defeat in Sky Bet League One.
Jack Moylan netted a brace, while Joe Taylor Daniel Mândroiu and Jovon Makama were also on target for the visitors at Oakwell, with Adam Phillips’ strike nothing more than a consolation for Neill Collins’ side.
It was a lacklustre start from the Reds, who were unable to get a foothold in the contest as Lincoln dictated proceedings in the opening stages.
Eventually, the Imps were rewarded for their bright approach when Lasse Sørensen broke free down the right flank and squared for Taylor to slam home from close range.
That failed to spark us into life, and City almost doubled their lead through Taylor’s snapshot from the edge of the box, but he was thwarted by a fine Liam Roberts save down to his left.
Barnsley never looked like mustering a response in the first half, with Phillips’ long range drive forcing Lukas Jensen into action the closest we came, while Herbie Kane could only balloon an effort over the bar.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-1 Lincoln City
A half-chance just after the interval for Phillips gave the Oakwell faithful a glimmer of hope that the pendulum might have swung in the Reds’ favour, but he opted to try and square the ball for Devante Cole rather than shoot, and the opportunity was lost.
From there, things went from bad to worse in the blink of an eye as Lincoln scored two quickfire goals to put the result beyond all doubt before the hour mark.
First, Moylan – on as a half-time substitute – danced into the box and calmly slotted into the far corner to double the visitors’ advantage, while Mândroiu was afforded far too much time and space to repeat the trick as he weaved beyond a host of challenges and found the opposite corner.
It was far too easy for Lincoln, who were clinical when it mattered, and Moylan netted his second of the contest, chesting the ball down and letting fly from 30-yards to add the Imps’ fourth of the afternoon.
We managed to get ourselves on the scoresheet as Phillips was on hand to find the top corner from close range after being picked out by Corey O’Keeffe.
But our misery was compounded 10 minutes from time when Moylan again sauntered into the area and saw his shot saved by Roberts, but Makama was there to bundle home the rebound from point blank range.
It was a bitterly disappointing afternoon for the Reds, who now need to regroup ahead of Tuesday evening's trip to Carlisle United.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-5 Lincoln City
REDS XI: Roberts (GK), Williams (C), de Gevigney, McCart, Earl, Cadden (O’Keeffe, 67), Connell (Russell, 78), Phillips, Kane (Grant, 53), McAtee (Cosgrove, 53), Cole (Marsh, 67).
Not used: Killip (GK), Cotter.
IMPS XI: Jensen (GK), Sørensen, Erhahon, Hackett-Fairchild (Duffy, 83), Taylor (Eyoma, 74), Mândroiu (Burroughs, 83), O’Connor (C), House (Makama, 73), Roughan, Mitchell, Draper (Moylan, 46).
Not used: Wright (GK), Jackson.
