At times this was almost unbearable to watch but ultimately a typical Barnsley performance.
Port Vale stretched their unbeaten record against the Reds to 9 games but didn’t have to work hard to keep it intact.
With just 14 games to go the team seems to suddenly not be bothered and are playing like mid-table obscurity is all they have to play for not a play-off place and possibly automatic promotion.
Tonight really highlighted the distinct lack of quality in this league. Port Vale are an extremely limited side but are in 9th and even Barnsley slogged around but sit in 6th.
The first half was an extremely tedious affair ( which seems the case at Oakwell these days)
The “best” moment came when the returning Martin Devaney tricked his way down the left wing and sent in a great ball across the six yard box that nobody could get a touch on.
The second half was only very slightly better as at least The Reds showed a bit more urgency and took the lead after a fine move on 57 minutes.
Devaney again showed his tricks before laying the ball across the area, Richards laid it off to Hayes and he fired it home.
With Port Vale now needing to come out of their shell The Reds should have pushed on to kill the game.
And they very nearly did on 78 minutes.
The two substitutes Danny Nardiello and Brian Howard combines, with Howard providing an exquisite chip from the edge of the area that looped over Vale keeper Mark Goodlad but agonisingly came back off the bar. The ball then struck defender Pilkington but somehow managed to knock it out for a corner off his own line.
That was about as adventurous the Reds went and even though Vale didn’t really offer much, you always knew they only needed 1 goal.
It came with 7 minutes remaining.
Smith sent in a cross which Michael Cummins reached and he sent a free header past the stranded Colgan.
A win tonight would have given The Reds a six point cushion over 7th place Chesterfield albeit having played a game more and would have seen them within 2 points of 3rd.
Now if Chesterfield beat Doncaster tomorrow night ( and when do Donny ever do us a favour) they will be within a point of The Reds and with a trip to Tranmere on Saturday where we have only won once in the last 10 seasons there’s a massive chance we will fall out of the top 6. Are we about to see a repeat of two years ago?
Player Ratings:
Nick Colgan: Once again had little to do and didn’t really stand a chance with the goal. For his nights work though he will be disappointed not to have got a clean sheet. 6
Bobby Hassell: Again one of the best on the park, could be a dark horse for Player of the Year. 8
Antony Kay: Needs to be kept in defence. Had a much better game than at Belle Vue. His tackles were good but needs to cut out the long balls. 7
Matt Carbon: Again marshalled the strikers well. Strong and steady. 7
Paul Heckingbottom: Was in no mans land for the equaliser and looked extremely shaky tonight. 5
Chris Shuker: Another nightmare game. He needs dropping for his own good. Couldn’t beat his man and attacks just broke down when the ball reached him. 4
Stephen McPhail: Extremely impressed tonight. Bossed the midfield and looked about the only one interested. 8
Jacob Burns: Better than at Belle Vue, but still a little dodgy. Cant complain with his season though. 6
Martin Devaney: Provided two of the three good moments in the match, but again limped off. Getting a little injury prone now. Booked. Subbed.7
Paul Hayes: One of the few that looked bothered, took his goal well and his withdrawal changed the game in Vale’s favour. Subbed. 7
Marc Richards: Starved of service but did the best he could. Never gave up. Booked. Subbed. 7
Substitutes:
Brian Howard ( for Devaney 73): Brought more urgency to the game and was desperately unlucky with his chip which would probably have killed Port Vale off. 7
Daniel Nardiello ( For Hayes 76): Had one good moment when he played in Howard for the chip but again uninspiring. 6
Tommy Wright ( for Richards 82): Looking like a poor £50k spent. Gets brief sub appearances and doesn’t make an impact with them. 5
Sponsors Man of the Match: Bobby Hassell.
Barnsley Boy’s Man of the Match: McPhail, Kay and Hayes all impressed but I wont argue with the sponsors this week.
Coca Cola League One Results Tuesday 14th February 2006
Barnsley 1-1 Port Vale
Blackpool 0-1 Huddersfield
Brentford 2-0 Southend
Colchester 0-0 Walsall
Rotherham 2-0 Bournemouth
Scunthorpe 0-2 Bristol City
Swansea 1-1 Bradford
Swindon 1-0 Gillingham
Tranmere 0-0 Hartlepool
Yeovil 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Barnsley lie in 6th place in League One with 52 points from 32 games. We are in the Play-Offs by 4 points, 7 points off the Automatic Promotion Places and 15 points clear of the Relegation Zone.
Next Up:
On The Road: Tranmere Rovers v Barnsley Saturday 18th February 2006 Kick Off 3pm
Admission to the game will be payable on the turnstiles at Prenton Park, priced at:
Adults - £17.00
Young Persons (Aged 17 to 22) * - £12.00
OAPs * - £9.00
Juveniles (Under 16) - £5.00
* Tickets for Young Persons and OAPs can only be purchased from the Ticket Office at Prenton Park on the day of the game. Photo ID is required for Young Persons tickets.
Official Reds On The Road coaches will be making the trip to Prenton Park. Coaches will depart Oakwell at 11.30am on the day of the game and the fare is £12.00.
At Oakwell: Barnsley v Colchester United Saturday 25th February 2006 Kick Off 3pm
This match is a Category A match but fans aged 10 and under on the 1st August 2005 can watch this match free when accompanied by a paying adult
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