Barnsley (U21s) 3-0 Bournemouth (U21s)

Barnsley (U21s) 3-0 Bournemouth (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 29th August 2023

As victories go, this was relatively straightforward as Barnsley made it two home wins from two in the Professional Development League this season with a 3-0 win over a somewhat underwhelming Bournemouth team.

Having not seen the Cherries play previously at U21s level, I was intrigued to see what they’re about - especially as they went into this game with a 100% record but I was rather underwhelmed by them as Barnsley dominated about 80% of the game aside from a 20-minute spell just after half-time where the visitors got a bit of a foothold to make it more even.

Aiden Marsh will have a big smile on his face because he bagged two goals to move him to joint-top of the PDL scoring charts with six goals, Fabio Jalo struck home a sumptuous free-kick that had everyone roaring with delight, ‘Aaron Atkinson’ (the same trialist who played against Swansea the other week - not ‘Aaron Holloway’ as I initially thought his name was) put in another impressive display where he was class, Harrison Nejman picked up a lot of bits and pieces in work that didn’t go unnoticed in deeper positions, Kieran Flavell made his first appearance in over a year, and I think the bumper crowd of about 250 will have really enjoyed what they saw in the blistering Barnsley-bados sunshine.

The Reds utilised the rule to include experienced heads as Conor McCarthy (in defence), Josh Benson (as a No.10) and Kyran Lofthouse (at RWB) all featured as over-age players and that seniority showed in many parts of the performance which was very good right from the start of the game.

The Reds had already got the ball into some good areas around Bournemouth’s box amidst some early pressure - including a great delivery by Aaron Atkinson in the first move of the match, before the opener came on the quarter-hour mark when Josh Benson’s free-kick from deep towards the back-post was knocked back across goal to where Aiden Marsh bundled it home from close-range to grab his fifth goal of the season.

At 1-0 up, Barnsley continued to look good and play really positively.

Marshy was a constant pain in the backside for Bournemouth’s defence; looking far sharper and more alert than them and showing that split-second superior intelligence quite a few times (clearly full of beans after the goal too) and he had two efforts saved in quick succession including one where he brilliantly brought the ball onto his left-foot and unleashed a volley from the edge of the box. Great technique!

Fabio Jalo also went close as did Josh Benson who drew a save with a stinging effort before he went close again in the same passage of play, but by the interval it remained 1-0 - with the Reds very much the better team!

In the second half, Bournemouth got a foothold for a while and held their own - even going close to an equaliser a couple of times as they skewed one shot wide after a ball in from the right towards the near-post and then when Nathan James was forced to make a block inside his box around the hour mark.

But that was really it as far as good as it got for them because the Reds still looked the better team overall - especially when Aaron Atkinson drove through the middle and flashed a shot just an inch wide, and the wee No.7 played an instrumental part in the second goal with a nimble spin away from his marker with the ball at chest-height that drew a foul about 25 yards out and in a shooting position for a certain somebody.

Straight away, that someone - Fabio Jalo - was licking his lips and eyeing up his chances and when he unleashed the subsequent free-kick, he provided the kind of flash of brilliance that only he is capable of as his stunning and thunderous effort rattled the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and went over the goal-line - and I’m glad someone chose to record it because it was a cracker which he’ll be buzzing about! 

Buoyed by doubling the lead, Barnsley’s intensity, drive and energy seemed to return almost immediately (for a while before making it 2-0 the game was becoming a bit flat) and for the rest of the game Tom Harban’s team really drove at Bournemouth with aggression and purpose as they sought to inflict more damage.

Jalo went close again with an effort that this time hit the bar and came back into play, the big No.16 trialist (Julian Donnery; a player with a very sweet left-foot, a proven end product what I've seen in previous games with my own eyes that have featured on this blog, and will be going away on international duty soon with Scotland's U19s - well done on your latest call-up) certainly posed a threat with his height advantage when he came on and then, after a short stoppage which included a drinks break, it was 3-0.

Aiden Marsh is looking really sharp at the moment and, this time, having mugged a Bournemouth defender who was dallying on the ball midway inside the visitors’ half, he drove with it towards the edge of the box, could have squared it to Aaron Atkinson who was advancing to his left and in the perfect position for a shot on goal, but instead Marshy unleashed an effort which caught a deflection off a defender and looped up and over the away ‘keeper and into the back of the net.

Thereafter, Bournemouth could have grabbed a consolation as Kieran Flavell made his best save on his return as he beat away a low effort that was on target (great to see him getting a clean-sheet on his return), whilst Fabio Jalo had a low drive saved at the other end with a left-foot shot where he probably needed to have a go on his right, and also had a penalty appeal waved away.

Had a spot-kick been given in the earlier instance; one of those where there was an element of contact albeit Fabio was definitely looking for it too, it would have been interesting to see whether he or Aiden Marsh (on his hat-trick) had taken it but when Marshy was replaced by Josiah Dyer a minute or two afterwards, he received a standing ovation from the crowd who appreciated what they’d seen.

Overall, it was a deserved win for Barnsley - and comfortable in the end. That little bit more experience they had in their line-up certainly showed for 80% of the game and as I said right at the start of this piece, I was quite underwhelmed by Bournemouth. Yes, they could have got an equaliser in the 45-65 minute spell where they got a foothold and got a couple of chances, but outside of that period they were second-best for the whole game and didn’t offer much whatsoever. I was expecting them to be a lot better than what they were (maybe it was one of those days) but they can’t have any complaints about this result because Barnsley’s defence had a very quiet day.

There were two stand-out performers in the game.

Aiden Marsh was a constant menace; he always looks knackered (that’s just Marshy) but his technique was good high up the pitch, his speed of thought and intelligence to just do things with the ball at his feet shone through massively and he was far too quick in that respect for Bournemouth. Hence why he tormented them. He deserved his two goals and this performance is just a continuation of what’s been a very good start to the season for him personally with six goals in the PDL already, plus the assist for the first team at Wigan on Saturday! Long may it continue and long may he keep torturing defences like he did in this game!

The other top performer on the pitch, without question, was Aaron Atkinson -  and even despite Marshy’s goalscoring, if I was dishing out a ‘Man Of The Match’ award then Aaron (No.7 or 'Trialist' as he was listed on the team-sheet) would be the person receiving it.

To begin with, he’s light, nimble, quick and sharp on his feet (all great things) but he’s got quality about him and has good productivity with the ball at his feet which I think is massive and absolutely testament to him.

Everyone watching this game will have impressed. Good link-up play was evidenced a few times (particularly a back-heel early in second half from near the corner flag towards the edge of the box which kept a move going). It showed sharpness and awareness. He moved well around the pitch and glided, wasn’t scared to drive at opponents with the ball on two or three occasions - the best being  the one where he drove in possession through the middle for about 20-30 yards and flashed the ball narrowly wide. His technique was good to win the free-kick for the second goal. He was creative and something of a playmaker; useful in the centre (when he came inside), useful out wide too, and his overall performance just backed up a really solid first impression he’d already created in the win over Swansea City a fortnight ago where he set high standards which he then maintained them in this game. His performance deserved a goal and I’d have loved to have seen him get one (had Marshy played him in near the end, that might have been the moment) but to coin a classic Barnsley phrase which describes him well: ‘He’s a rate good little player’. All I can say if he reads this is keep it up because you’ve been very good and the way you’re playing, the livewire intelligence you’re showing, it wins people’s respect and is class to watch and you’ve added something to this team. Been a pleasure watching it!

Lastly, I want to give a mention to Harrison Nejman as he broke up the play on several occasions and I don’t think anyone on the pitch won the ball back more than him across the 90 minutes, and his desire to do that ‘dirty work’ was very instrumental in helping the defence have a quiet afternoon and keep their clean-sheet. There were lots of things that happened higher up the pitch but Harrison’s work didn’t go unnoticed to my eyes, it shouldn’t be underestimated and that was where he shone. He’s still got areas for improvement; one pass in the first half went straight into the seats (not sure what he was trying with that one) and when he drove forward in one instance during the second half, he just needed to get his head up, look up and play a simple ball out wide to the RWB who’d overlapped and was in a perfect position to receive something - instead Bournemouth got the ball and countered quite quickly which was dangerous. They’re things to learn from (what these games are all about anyway) but he’s captain of this team for a reason, his presence is good (take him out this team and you’d notice a difference straight away) and the bits he does well, he does very well - hence why I’m always glad when I turn up and he’s involved because I enjoy watching him.

Again, a good day, a good result.

The only disappointing aspects from my viewpoint were not seeing Hayden Pickard involved (think he was just rested) and that’s only because he’s set really high standards and been very impressive the last few times I’ve watched him in games, plus Matty Doyle didn’t get any minutes - someone who had a big smile in the half-time warm-up (good personality is everything) and after hearing loads of good things about his character plus seeing him head in the equaliser against Charlton in the Play-Off Final last season (some day that was) and knowing about his injuries, I want to see get a decent run in the team at some point to properly learn and understand what he’s all about.

Up the Reds!

Team: Kieran Flavell, Kyran Lofthouse, Mylan Benjamin, Nathan James, Conor McCarthy, Alex Joof (Josh McKay), Trialist, Harrison Nejman, Fabio Jalo, Josh Benson (Trialist), Aiden Marsh (Josiah Dyer). Unused Subs: Rogan Ravenhill, Matty Doyle.