Barnsley (U21s) 4-2 Swansea City (U21s)

Barnsley (U21s) 4-2 Swansea City (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 15th August 2023

After a long summer, the Professional Development League is back and Barnsley’s U21s began the season in style with this 4-2 win over Swansea City.

It’s always good to learn about new players and one of my plans for this season is to try and watch as many games across the PDL as I can (plus maybe even a few Cat 1 games occasionally) - thus meaning more Monday night trips to Hull, days out at the Sheffield clubs, visits down South, as well as these trips to Oakwell which I usually enjoy anyway.

There were a few ‘new’ players on show for Barnsley in this game including Jack Shepherd (recently signed from Pontefract and a proper ‘old school’ defender - very good), Nathan James who played alongside him in defence and was also making his U21s debut, plus a trialist upfront (Aaron Atkinson) wearing the No.10 shirt.

All three lads did well individually in a decent overall Barnsley performance (more on them further down) but it was an old face who stole the headlines in Aiden Marsh because he bagged a first half hat-trick which took him (briefly) to the top of the PDL scoring charts.

His first goal couldn’t have been simpler as he tapped home from a yard out after some good work and an effort by Fabio Jalo, his second - just a minute or so after the opener was from quite a similar position, and his hat-trick goal was a great example of what Marshy does best, using his technique well, moving across the edge of the box and unleashing a powerful shot which cannoned in off the post.

At this level, you don’t get much better than a hat-trick in the space of roughly eight minutes and at this point in the game; the Swans 3-0 down after just 22 minutes, you feared the worst for them - especially when Fabio Jalo and the trialist No.10 both drew saves as the Reds pushed forward in search of more.

The Welsh team didn’t cave in though and before half-time they pulled two goals back in moments which Rogan Ravenhill will want to forget in a hurry.

For the first, the big ‘keeper spilled a ball into his near-post and it allowed Iwan Morgan to convert and pull one back and then, about five minutes before the break, it was 3-2 as Liam Smith cut inside from the edge of the box and let fly with an effort that caught a slight deflection off Jack Shepherd and squirmed through Ravenhill’s grasp.

That put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons again and in the second half, both teams had chances as they sought to get the next goal.

Barnsley endured some agonising moments at one end as Swansea went close to pulling it back to 3-3; hitting the post, forcing Ravenhill into a few saves, and also flashing a ball through the six-yard box (always a scary one) whilst Aiden Marsh drew three big saves with efforts on target at the other end. An acrobatic attempt was kept out, then he hit a shot straight at the Swansea ‘keeper and when he looked destined to bury the next chance, Evan Watts pulled off his best save of the bunch!

Good technique, plus a grimace and scream in frustration by Marshy who couldn’t believe he hadn’t scored again… so still it remained 3-2.

Barnsley did eventually get the next goal to put daylight between themselves and the Swans as the No.10 was brought down inside the box (a definite penalty) and Fabio Jalo stepped up and converted to get his goals tally up and running for the new season - and with Fabz you know there’ll be plenty more to come!

In the latter stages, it could have been 5-2 because Josiah Dyer was slipped through into a one-on-one (I think by the No.12 who came on) but the visiting ‘keeper made a save to ensure the damage didn’t get any worse.

On the whole, it was a decent game. Swansea will feel unlucky not to have pulled it back to 3-3 with the territory they had and the chances they created in the early part of the second half (even if they did get two gifts to initially get back into the game) and they played some neat football at times, but Barnsley, slightly direct, I always thought were the better team. It wasn’t perfect; there’s bits to learn and reflect on and a few individual areas for improvement, but there were a lot of positives from this game and the aggression and intensity was good. That's why they got the win.

Rogan Ravenhill shouldn’t be too harsh on himself for the goals he conceded. He’ll be disappointed (understandably) but mistakes happen - it’s part of a learning curve and when a ‘keeper makes an error it usually results in a goal. That’s just football. But in the second half, he commanded his box well - including an instance where he watched a long ball all the way to him and concentrated to make sure he claimed it inside his box under pressure and didn’t accidentally venture outside it - that was good. He pulled off saves, his kicking was decent and there was no sign of nerves or any confidence issues, etc, and it was a good response by him. A weaker ‘keeper with a weaker mentality might have let the two goals effect them, he didn’t - and that takes character and he’ll always be a legend amongst his team-mates anyway for the part he played in this particular game only a few months ago. A good second half for him to build from!

Amongst the outfielders, I thought Nathan James (who was the unnamed trialist from that Charlton game at the end of last season) and Jack Shepherd complimented each other very well. NJ reads the game really well; there’s a composure about how he plays and the ironic thing, in my opinion he’s better than one or two lads who are still at Burnley (his old club) and playing in the same position in the 21s. That’s the best compliment I can give him and he warrants it as he’s been decent both times I’ve seen him.

Jack Shepherd, after a shaky start, was really good and showed his value. Bits to improve with his feet and things to work on - and I’m not sure what he was trying to do when he headed it against his own crossbar under no pressure at 0-0 (got away with one there mate) but otherwise he was class - raw, aggressive, VERY physical, he bullied the Swansea players at times and ragged them about (including the instance just before the impromptu drinks break towards the end of the first half) and his old school values stand out a mile. It was my first time watching him play and he created a really good impression; that’s what any player wants to do because you never know who might be watching and, based on this game - plus a few bits I’ve heard from elsewhere, then I’ve got no doubts he’ll get even better as the season goes on and become a massive asset to this team along with being an absolute 6ft3 monster of a physical unit which he is already. A very good defender in the making!

Josh McKay and Mylan Benjamin (another new face for me) were both steady - some decent play down the left from Benjamin on a few occasions, whereas McKay grew into things more as things progressed.

Hayden Pickard (playing No.7 and more advanced to what I’ve seen him usually play in the past) was decent - ratting well at times, getting behind the ball, doing his out-of-possession work really well, grafting hard, and he’s grown on me as a player a lot over the past few times I’ve watched him. Love his vocality - noticing that more and I think the fact he’s been in and around this U21s team for a while now is really beginning to show because he knows what is expected and is stepping up. Decent on set-pieces too. I didn’t mind the one to the near-post in the last few minutes, nor the yellow card he got either (a classic case of taking one for the team to stop a breakaway).

And that’s exactly the same reason why Harrison Nejman was booked too and he deserves a shout for coming through a whole game against Swansea without being elbowed in the mouth by the referee which is what happened in the same fixture last season! Top lad and, apparently… he’s one of the most hilarious people off-the-pitch in football according to a reference I had back recently. Never a bad accolade to have!

Elsewhere, the No.10 trialist (Aaron Atkinson) looked sharp and quite lively on several occasions, offered good bits of link-up play around the box, moved the ball well, stood out in his orange boots, won the penalty through his movement, had a couple of efforts saved where on a different day he might have scored, and was decent overall and certainly someone who I’d like to watch again because he made a good impression/contribution. Fabio Jalo had a steady afternoon - nothing too sensational by his standards but he still got a goal (as you half-expect from him) and everyone knows the threat he poses.

Of the subs used, Josiah Dyer is always likely to cause defenders mayhem and make them unsure of what he’s about to do (reminds me so much of Leo Fortune-West) and whilst he didn’t score his chance, he did hold the ball up quite well a few times. Noted. And the other trialist, No.12, (Junior?) looked bright out wide and was involved in some useful passages of play after he replaced Marshy, whilst Jean Claude Makiessi and Alex Joof will be happy to have got some minutes as they try and force their way into this team on a frequent basis.

Finally, nice to see Conor McCarthy back on the pitch after his injuries last season and, especially Aiden Marsh who’ll steal the headlines by virtue of the hat-trick and increase his profile as a result - never a bad thing when that happens!

Marshy's first two goals were easy tap-ins (even I’m not missing from a yard out), the third was decent and I actually thought his play was better in the second half when he had three good chances in quick succession - all coming from good technique. It could have been another hat-trick but this time they all got saved. One of them scenarios. Last year was frustrating for Marshy getting injured when he did because considering how hard he works - dropping back deep to win the ball, running loads and constantly grafting, plus his end product and the fact he’s a sound and down to earth lad (all things I’ve picked up on so many times) then I know he’d have done well in his loan at Scunthorpe and been decent for them. It's a shame injuries put paid to that but to see him back on the pitch; fit, delivering, doing well, feeling good vibes and hitting high standards is great to see. I see his quality and, fingers-crossed where injuries are concerned, I know he'll shine when he gets his first team openings as he's got consistency as a goalscorer and consistency as a performer.

On the whole, an enjoyable day and a worthwhile trip, lots learned and some good first impressions created. Can’t ask for much more! Up the Reds!

Team: Rogan Ravenhill, Josh McKay, Mylan Benjamin, Jack Shepherd, Conor McCarthy, Nathan James, Hayden Pickard, Harrison Nejman, Fabio Jalo, Aaron Holloway, Aiden Marsh. Subs Used: Trialist, Jean-Claude Makiessi, Alex Joof, Josiah Dyer. Unused Sub: Trent Carter-Rogers (GK).