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Another teenager, 17 year-old Nathan Joynes, was on target for the Reds who, despite conceding two penalties, managed to keep all eleven players on the pitch this time! Joynes is the latest member of Barnsley’s highly-successful Academy set-up to progress into the reserves and beyond. The Oakwell under 19s have just finished second in the league behind Blackburn, with notable victories against the champions, Arsenal, Liverpool and Crewe amongst others en route. Their first-half three-goal demolition of our reserves (featuring Payton, Maylett, McGregor and Armstrong) back at the Turf in November, still stands out as the most exceptional 45 minutes of reserve football seen all season.
The Blades received another boost to their title hopes the next day when rivals Wolves went down 3-2 at Oldham. Ex-Claret John Ward’s team took an early lead through Ashley Vincent, but goals from Canadian international Carlo Corazzin and Southampton trialist Ben Poate gave the Latics a halftime lead. Jimmi Lee Jones brought Wolves level before full back Michael Clegg volleyed the winner following a corner.
Wolves were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty in the last minute when Vincent was brought down by the goalie. However, the referee decided that the keeper had played the ball first, a decision that could have serious implications at the end of the season for both top and bottom of the table.
The Latics now move ahead of the Clarets on goals scored following our 3-1 defeat at Walsall. They have two games remaining (Walsall away, Preston home) to our four (Preston away, Walsall home, Tranmere away, Bury home). But with the Supremo probably having to field inexperienced youngsters in each game it’s going to be a very tight finish indeed to see whether ourselves or Oldham go down with Bury.
Finally, it was remiss of me not to mention it in my report, but congratulations to 15 year-old Tom Ince whose second-half substitute appearance for the Clarets at the Bescot marked his debut at this level.
Forthcoming fixtures:
Monday, April 14th:
Wolves v Tranmere
Wednesday, April 16th:
Barnsley v Huddersfield
Preston v Burnley (Deepdale, 7pm)
Rotherham v Sheffield United
Walsall v Oldham
Leading league scorers:
7 Joe O’Neill (Preston)
7 Paul Warne (Rotherham)
6 Gareth Seddon (Bury)
6 Griff Jones (Barnsley)
6 Isaiaih Rankin (Barnsley)
6 Paul Macari (Huddersfield)
6 Scott Vernon (Oldham)
6 Mark Robins (Rotherham)
6 Lauerens Ten Heuvel (Sheffield United)
6 Simon Lynch (Preston)
6 Jimmi Lee Jones (Wolves)
5 Dimitri Papadopoulos (Burnley)
5 Damien Hindle (Burnley)
5 Andy Robinson (Tranmere)
5 Andy Monkhouse (Rotherham)
5 Jonathan Stead (Huddersfield)
Avon Insurance Premier Division Table