Barnsley Undone by Last-Minute Mansfield Strike

Another painful afternoon for Barnsley ended in late heartbreak as Mansfield Town snatched a 2-1 win at the One Call Stadium. The Reds battled back through a thunderous Josh Benson strike, but Deji Oshilaja’s 90th-minute winner condemned them to a third consecutive League One defeat.

Slow Out the Blocks, Mansfield Take Advantage

Conor Hourihane’s first game as interim head coach saw several changes to the Reds' lineup. Adam Phillips returned, Mael de Gevigney slotted back in after suspension, and Josh Benson was handed his first league start since October.

Barnsley almost made the perfect start inside five minutes. Davis Keillor-Dunn played Stephen Humphrys through one-on-one, but Christy Pym got down well to save. The rebound fell to Benson, but his driven effort was straight at the keeper.

That missed chance proved costly. Mansfield went ahead in the 12th minute, as Kaylan Vickers found space in the box and squeezed a low shot past Jackson Smith at the near post. Worse still, Smith picked up an injury moments later and was forced off, handing a league debut to young keeper Kieren Flavell.

Flavell was quickly called into action, producing a sharp stop to deny Lucas Akins before bravely smothering an opportunity for Hiram Boateng. The Reds, however, struggled for fluency and created little as Mansfield controlled much of the first half.

Second-Half Response – But Agony at the End

Hourihane shuffled the pack at half-time, bringing on Max Watters and Connor Barratt. The changes had an immediate impact.

On 54 minutes, Barnsley finally clicked. Phillips and Watters combined before Keillor-Dunn found Benson on the overlap. The midfielder let fly with a rocket into the roof of the net – his first goal since returning from injury.

With the game finely balanced, Barnsley had moments to grab a second, but Mansfield remained dangerous. Jordan Rhodes almost won it late on, but McCarthy produced a brilliant last-ditch block.

Then came the gut punch. With 90 minutes on the clock, a high ball into the box wasn’t dealt with, and Oshilaja swivelled to fire home past Flavell. Game over.

Match Stats

Stat	Mansfield	Barnsley
Possession (%)	43.2%	56.8%
Total Shots	18	8
On Target	5	6
Passing Accuracy (%)	56.6%	67.3%
Corners	5	5
Fouls Committed	13	12

Team Lineups

Barnsley XI: Smith (Flavell 14’), Russell (Lewis 92’), Roberts (Barratt 46’), de Gevigney, O’Keeffe, Phillips, Benson (Farrugia 82’), McCarthy, Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys (Watters 46’), Connell (c).

Subs not used: Lembikisa, Nwakali.

Mansfield XI: Pym, Bowery, Cargill, Oshilaja, McLaughlin, Reed (c), Akins (Boateng 74’), Bacchus (Lewis 90+2’), Vickers (Waine 87’), Quinn (Flint 90+2’), Evans.

Subs not used: Flinders, Kilgour, Rhodes.

What’s Next?

Barnsley return to Oakwell on 22nd March 2025, where they take on Cambridge United. The last time these sides met, the Reds ran out 2-0 winners, and history favours Barnsley with three wins from the last five encounters.

However, form is a concern. The Reds have struggled at home, averaging just 1.17 points per game this season, while Cambridge have been even worse on the road, picking up a dismal 0.53 points per game. Both teams are reeling, and with their season all but over, Barnsley’s players must show they still have fight left in them.

With fan frustration boiling over and major changes expected in the summer, a response is needed—not just for the table, but to restore some pride at Oakwell.

FT: Mansfield Town 2-1 Barnsley