Barnsley (U23s) 3-1 Peterborough United (U23s)

Barnsley (U23s) 3-1 Peterborough United (U23s)

Premier League Professional Development League

Friday 18th March 2022

It's finally happened!

A whole 18 years after watching Barnsley play at Oakwell for the first time (which, ironically, was a 1-0 defeat to Peterborough United), they've finally won a fixture on the hallowed surface as their U23s beat the Posh, 3-1, this afternoon.

It was a closely-fought contest and although Barnsley created more clear-cut chances, it's fair to say they made hard work of things.

David Bremang, who has impressed me whenever I've watched him, opened the scoring with a curling finish just past the quarter-hour mark but after Aiden Marsh missed a sitter and Isaac Christie-Davies rattled the upright, the visitors hauled themselves level through skipper Charlie O'Connell on 66 minutes.

A draw then seemed a likely possibility until the final 10 minutes when Barnsley did enough to claim victory as Amir Ariely pounced from close-range following a corner before Will Hondermarck capitalised on some sloppy goalkeeping and slid the ball home from a tight angle.

It was a deserved three points on the balance of chances and overall play with some good individual performances across the pitch - whether that be from Aiden Marsh (who, besides his miss, showed enough glimpses for me to understand why he's rated so highly), Isaac Christie-Davies (lively to say the least) or any of the three different scorers.

Match Report

After kick-off was delayed by half-an-hour due to Peterborough's team bus arriving late, the visitors (wearing their distinctive blue and white colours) got things underway, but it was Barnsley who had the first chance when Christie-Davies flashed a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.  

The Reds midfielder was carrying out defensive duties a minute later; thwarting Roddy McGinchley reasonably well when tracking back as Peterborough got the ball in the final third and looked dangerous for the first time.

Barnsley were more experienced and seemed cuter up top and Marsh almost set-up an opening for the unnamed trialist on 10 minutes when he brought an aerial ball under control with a deft first touch and then threaded it through but Posh’s backline were able to just about recover in time.

Down at the other end and almost immediately, Posh responded by squandering a good opening of their own as Kai Corbett crept in-behind yet seemed to wait an eternity before pulling the trigger which subsequently allowed a defender to intervene with a well-timed tackle.

Things continued to swing back and forth over the next few minutes as Lewis Darlington headed wide from Corbett's cross in the clearest-cut chance up to this point, before Barnsley also went close as a near-post ball narrowly evaded the unnamed trialist who was lurking in close proximity.

It didn't take much longer until the deadlock was broken and it was Barnsley (and Bremang) who got the opening goal; the forward curling an effort through a packed penalty box and into the net from 15 yards in the second chance after the Reds had recycled the ball very well after Kareem Hassan-Smith's initial low drive was blocked on the goal-line.

The hosts looked to build on their lead and went close again five minutes later. On this occasion, Marsh's clever and intricate through pass found an advancing Hondermarck whose near-post drive was knocked for a corner. From that delivery, Jordan Helliwell used his upper body strength to brilliant effect (which highlights his value to this team) to win a free-kick right on the edge of the box which was put over the target by Christie-Davies.

The referee, generally, officiated the game quite well - opting to use players' first names and communicate with rather than lecture the lads, but he became the focus of attention just past the half-hour mark as Christie-Davies went in hard in a tackle with Hedley Ogobor close to the halfway line before having a nibble at O'Connell who picked up the loose ball and was about to break away. It led to a yellow card.

Ogobor then lost his next duel with Bremang and it resulted in a gilt-edged chance from which Barnsley should have gone 2-0 up. Having outmuscled Ogobor, Bremang found himself on an inside-right position inside the penalty area and he unselfishly delivered an inviting cut-back for an unmarked Marsh on the edge of the six-yard box who almost seemed to have too much time and space as he somehow ballooned his shot over the upright. It was a big miss!

Peterborough's last chance of the first half came the way of Corbett. Having been fouled about 30 yards out, he took responsibility from the resulting set-piece and let fly with a somewhat speculative effort which was comfortably saved by Daniel Jinadu.

The second half then saw less in the way of goalmouth action although it almost began with a goal as visiting 'keeper Bogdan Marian did well to thwart Bremang with a double save after the big forward got in-behind and threatened to wreak havoc.

A quiet period followed before a set-piece opening arose when Bremang was brought down around 20 yards out. Marsh and Christie-Davies stood over the ball, probably deliberating whether a right or left-foot effort would be the best option, and eventually it was Christie-Davies who curled the free-kick narrowly wide of the 'keeper's left-hand post.

Christie-Davies, recognisable through his big physique and hard-working nature, put himself about quite a lot and was very unfortunate not to double the lead just past the hour mark. Jack Sherlock, who'd not long since been introduced, layed the ball off for him midway inside the visitors' half and with just one thing in mind, Christie-Davies looked up and hit a dipping strike which left the woodwork rattling.

Peterborough hadn't offered much in the second half up to this point. Corbett (who was their best player and enjoyed plenty of neat touches in the first 45 minutes) had been nullified quite well since the re-start but he was, nevertheless, involved in the equaliser. 

The Reds conceded possession cheaply which allowed Kellan Hickinson to knock the ball through to Corbett who in turn played it towards O'Connell who'd accelerated into the box on the overlap and from there, Posh's skipper made no mistake with his finish to level things up. It was 1-1 with a quarter of the game to go!

Possibly shocked at being pegged back, there was a brief 'lull' in action over the next couple of minutes as Barnsley took some time to gather their thoughts, composure and 'go again'. 

The lull ended when Bremang had a shot parried away after some very good build-up play involving Hondermarck and Sherlock whilst there were a couple of set-plays at either end as the game entered its final 15 minutes; Corbett curling his shot wide for Posh whereas Bremang forced a routine save infront of the South Stand.

Amidst a couple of substitutions which saw Marsh replaced by Keegan Hartley and Harrison Njeman come on for Christie-Davies, Bremang also needed treatment for a bloodied nose. The big man then provided something of an inadvertent lift to fire up his team-mates when he battled to win a corner in a duel with Oscar Tonge and then threw the ball straight at his opponent. The Posh left-back went to ground in act of gamesmanship; it was all rather silly and the referee had no option but to show Bremang a yellow card (for the petulance) yet it provided a spark for his team-mates to get the grit between their teeth.

The eventual set-piece was cleared for another corner from the opposite side which culminated in the goal to put Barnsley ahead again. The second delivery wasn't dealt with whatsoever and the ball bounced up inside the six-yard box with Ariely appearing to get the final touch to take it over the line.

Peterborough now had their work cut out to try and find a get a good result and in the closing five minutes Barnsley wrapped things up. Hondermarck (who'd been up and down the pitch on a few occasions throughout the game) capitalised on some hesitant keeping; stealing the ball from Marian's grasp close to the byline before finishing from the tightest of angles.

Overall Thoughts

On the whole this is the fourth time I've seen Barnsley this season (two wins and two defeats) and it's clear again that they've got some good players who'll go on to do well in the game - which is testament to themselves, the club (for providing the platform) and the coaches who've put in countless hours over the years to develop them to the best of their ability.

In this game, David Bremang left a good impression again. He's raw, but big, strong and physical, imposes himself well against defenders (such as in the first half which led to the chance for Aiden Marsh), scores goals and I don't mind the incident where he threw the ball at their left-back because it shows he's got emotions and gets involved in a game. There's a definite edge to him which is a good thing and at some point I've got no doubts he'll go out to a club on loan, make a big impact and prove his ability to a wider audience. He's a strong player.

Elsewhere, Isaac Christie-Davies was decent from very early on and competed well in the game. The yellow card incident was a bit rash, on his part, but it was one of those and it didn't then change how he competed or his work-rate. He's got a lot of good characteristics and had an alright game.

Despite seeing bits and pieces of (and heaing quite a bit about) Aiden Marsh previously, this was the first time I've seen him properly for any great length in a game and I get why he's rated highly and made his first team debut already, etc. A good left-foot, a good first touch and control - especially early on which put the trialist through, he had other bits and bobs of good link-up play. If I was in the dressing room, I'd be giving him some right banter for the chance he missed because it was the ultimate definition of a 'sitter' but it happens and as long as he puts the next one away, that's what really matters.

Will Hondermarck was lively and made 2 or 3 marauding runs and can take comfort in his performance through the goal where he kind of mugged the 'keeper, whilst Jordan Helliwell (who I'll always speak positively about) epitomised everything he's about when he used his strength to win a free-kick on the edge of the box. When he goes on to play 50-100 first team games somewhere, it'll be those characteristics which help him get one over on any dismissive managers who dub him 'too small' and just want big lads. He's as strong as anyone on a pitch, if not stronger.

Other players such as Amir Ariely and Kareem Hassan-Smith played good parts too, plus those who I've not mentioned and from the bench Jack Sherlock came on, read the game and situation pretty much straight away and linked-up reasonably well with attacks mainly from the right flank. It was a positive contribution.

When you look at this team which played, coupled with those who've been in Barnsley's U23s over the past year or two who are either out on loan elsewhere now (such as Joe Ackroyd or Jason Sraha) or on the periphery of the first team picture (such as Jasper Moon), it's clear there's a lot of decent players. It might not produce top class players which get sold for mega bucks but I've no doubt that many of these lads will go on to forge a decent career at a reasonably good level - whether it be at Barnsley or elsewhere will depend on 'luck' and opportunity as much as anything but the talent is there. Fair play to them and I wish them all well.

I'm not sure if I'll be at Barnsley or Sheffield United, who also have some ridiculously good players coming through the ranks right now, next week as both teams have games at the exact same time, but I enjoyed this game and what was on show.

A mention finally to Kai Corbett (who was lively for Peterborough to a point) and Charlie O'Connell who scored their goal, because it was easy to see what he offered through his leadership. They didn't get everything right by any means but it's easy to recognise the talent they've got.