Professional Development League
Tuesday 31st January 2023
A Tuesday afternoon trip to Oakwell and a game which was very much worthwhile as one of the soundest lads around bagged what turned out to be the winning goal on his return from injury.
After four months out, Luke Thomas was included in Barnsley’s starting line-up and came through 45 minutes unscathed; looking sharp, being strong with his upper body and retaining the ball under close pressure a few times, along with showing a good touch and moving the ball around quite well, but the match-winner was none other than Jordan Helliwell.
Out for exactly five months and four days, the now 21-year-old was named on the team-sheet handed out at the gate (albeit he wasn’t on the one on Barnsley’s Twitter Feed), and he came off the bench at half-time, showed superb composure to latch onto a piercing through ball from Harrison Nejman (good from you Nej!) and then achieved the ‘sub sub’ tag when he trotted off again with 15 minutes remaining, having completed a planned 30 minutes.
All in a days work, Jordan!
Barnsley rode their luck at times to get these three points though because, on a day when winds spoiled the game and played havoc whenever someone tried to take a set-piece, Wigan certainly had their chances.
Inside the first quarter-hour, Reds ‘keeper Paul Cooper saved a pretty poor spot-kick from Wigan’s No.9 (rattling the bar just before he took it; the penalty being low and straight down the middle and easy to save, but an excellent distraction technique nonetheless) and Cooper then pulled off an even better save when the referee decided to overall his linesman and let Wigan have a one-on-one in which the Reds ‘keeper retained his composure to again deny Chris Sze who soon enough went off injured. It was a big save, too, and very reminiscent of that game all those years ago when Fabien Barthez just put his arms in the air and let Paolo Di Canio score. We've all seen the footage of that one!
Barnsley, fielding a number of trialists, gradually got better as the first half wore on and after the big No.6 sent a stooping header over from a recycled corner by Thomas, Barnsley’s main man was then denied a goal on his return as he scuffed a near-post shot straight at the Wigan ‘keeper. Unlucky!
Then, just before half-time came a much better opening for the Reds as Nejman played ‘Naughty little through ball Number One’ of the afternoon through to the advancing No.3 who couldn’t quite keep his shot down.
The quality of that pass meant it was the best one of the first half and, after Wigan’s Abdi Sharif shanked an intended clearance against his own post early into the second half, Nejman then produced ‘Naughty little through ball Number Two’ of the afternoon (which looks even better on camera) - spotting the run, and then playing a fantastic and thoroughly intended pass from about 40 yards through to Helliwell, and Ossett’s finest sportsman wasn’t going to waste the chance.
Whoosh, 1-0 - and as he held his arms aloft in the celebration and every player ran over to him (bar Paul Cooper… because it would have been a long way for him to run), you could see quite clearly that the moment meant as much to Jordan as those occasions earlier this season when he played under the lights at Elland Road and the Riverside Stadium.
What a lad!
Still in ridiculously freezing winds, Wigan tried to get back into the game. Their best player was No.4 (listed as Scott Smith on the team-sheet) and wearing the skipper’s armband, he went on a slaloming run to get into the box where his eventual effort was knocked away by Cooper who used his legs to keep the ball out.
Barnsley then held out in the latter stages; the big No.6 on trial showing signs of leadership and dominance in the air a few times, and ultimately they picked up the three points.
Overall, there were some good contributions in the Reds team.
Harrison Nejman’s passing was at times sublime - and he’s looking really good and established in this team right now. Paul Cooper; big saves and a decent performance. Luke Thomas; coming through his 45 minutes unscathed, and, of course, that match-winning contribution from the ‘sub sub’ who’ll still probably be beaming and buzzing with delight whenever he reads this (assuming he’s not got bored of all my waffle and clicked off by this point).
One player who impressed me (again) in Barnsley’s team was Charlie Winfield and I didn’t realise just how comfortable he was with using both feet. That was both evident and to be appreciated. He also had a decent little sprint forward during the first half, linked up well with others, and it backs up a very solid first game back against Birmingham City a few weeks ago where he looked really up for it physically and put in a good 45-minute display. He won’t want reminding of his corner in the first half which cleared the fence and ended up on the 4G pitch behind the goal (blame the wind for that one) but it was a solid and steady showing, a full 90 minutes in the tank, and he’s added quality since his return which is exactly what he’ll have wanted to do. Top boy. I’ve plenty of admiration for it. Keep it going!
Along with the players who featured in this game, Barnsley have some other good youngsters out on loan at the minute who are doing well.
Will Lancaster (Guess Who’s Back? Lanny’s Back) is smashing it at Bradford Park Avenue where he gets to play in the same team as my old mate Will Longbottom. Joe Ackroyd is ripping it up at Buxton after a very good spell at Guiseley earlier in the season where he set the type of standards which other loanees should aspire to reach, and Jasper Moon (the man, the myth - and the absolute legend) is probably still beaming about having been included in the League One Team Of The Week after his first appearance at Burton Albion - not to mention getting another three points in his second game there.
All top lads who I hope all go on to do themselves justice and have good careers!
Barnsley’s next game is against Hull City on Tuesday 7th February.
It’ll probably mean more minutes for the lads who are making their comebacks from injury, so get there if you can to support them... and if my favourite blonde-haired midield lynchpin (and captain) starts popping similar naughty passes about, it’ll be well worth the trip!
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