Colchester United have made it two from two after a grinding out a 3-2 win against a very good Barnsley side. The goals came from Oscar Thorn and Jake Hutchinson managed a brace.
The U’s took the lead brilliantly in the sixth minute through Oscar Thorn, Kaan Bennett made a lovely run, beating two defenders before letting fly on the edge of the box. His shot was blocked but fell to Thorn who took a touch, cut inside and then released a shot that ripped past the Barnsley ‘keeper and oncoming defenders.
In the twentieth minute the Barnsley had a corner, a lovely ball was played in and the U’s defence didn’t deal with it as they’d have liked to and a Barnsley forward swung a boot off it, the ball smashed off the bar and the came back out to the feet of another Barnsley player who again, smashed the ball against the crossbar. The U’s came away quickly, starting a counter attack and bombing up the pitch, a mess at the back for the visitors allowed Jake Hutchinson to get in and he made no mistake with the finish.
The U’s controlled the game well for the remainder of the half, however the away side did put the pressure on towards then end, a couple of clear cut chances went begging for the visitors but a lot of praise has to go to Yates, Jet Dyer, the two Trialists and Ted Collins, the back four did very well to stop the chances and Ted Collins was extremely commanding in his own box.
Straight after hard time the visitors pulled one back. A good initial save from Ted Collins was spilled and the Barnsley attacker reacted quickest, sliding the ball home from close range with Collins inches away from saving it.
Nine minutes later it was 2-2, the U’s gave away a needless free kick in a dangerous crossing area and the ball in was perfect, the Barnsley attacker rose highest producing a brilliant header to level the scores.
In the sixty-fourth minute the U’s went 3-2 up, some absolutely brilliant pressure from Jake Hutchinson made the ‘keeper panic, delaying his clearance, his eventual clearance went straight into the number nine and he had a simple finish in an open net.
The U’s defended excellently for the remainder of the game, not allowing the visitors many shots on goal, late on Matt Yates and the Trialist (5) put their bodies on the line blocking two shots from the same player that were almost certainly going goalward. The U’s did brilliantly when faced with the quick attacks of Barnsley in the second half and the U’s really managed well to regroup after losing their 2-0 lead.
Starting XI
- Ted Collins 2. Trialist 3. Jet Dyer 4. Gene Kennedy (Ryan Lowe), 5. Trialist 6. Matt Yates (T’aizo Marcel-Dilaver) 7. Chay Cooper 8. Donell Thomas (Kennedy Mupomba) 9. Jake Hutchinson 10. Oscar Thorn 11. Kaan Bennett
Unused Subs
- Jayden Peglar