Goals from Davis Keillor-Dunn, Adam Phillips, Georgie Gent, and Max Watters had the Reds cruising at 4-1 with just over ten minutes to play, only for the visitors to mount a late surge, leaving Barnsley fans breathing a huge sigh of relief at the final whistle.
The result keeps Darrell Clarke’s side tenth in League One, four points off the play-offs, with a massive trip to sixth-placed Charlton up next.
Reds Make Fast Start
With confidence high after back-to-back away wins at Rotherham and Northampton, Barnsley carried that momentum into this one, and it didn’t take long for them to strike.
The opener arrived after 13 minutes, when a defensive header fell to Keillor-Dunn, who spotted the Lincoln goalkeeper off his line and lobbed him from 20 yards — a touch of class to get Oakwell bouncing.
The Reds continued to push forward, with Phillips and Humphrys combining well to test the keeper. It was Phillips himself who doubled the lead after Keillor-Dunn pounced on a defensive error and played him in to smash home from close range after 34 minutes.
Gent’s Mixed Afternoon
Georgie Gent made it 3-0 early in the second half with a goal to remember — and one to forget.
A slick team move saw Keillor-Dunn flick a pass into Humphrys, who burst into the box and squared for Gent. His first touch settled him, and his second buried the ball into the net, marking his first goal in English football.
But just when it seemed like a routine afternoon, Gent’s defensive lapse invited Lincoln back into the game. A low cross from the left squirmed through his attempted clearance, allowing Tendayi Darikwa to stab home from close range and make it 3-1.
Watters On Target But Nerves Jangle
Lincoln enjoyed their best spell after pulling one back, but substitute Max Watters looked to have settled matters when he broke from midfield and curled an excellent finish into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 with 13 minutes to play.
Yet, the drama was far from over. Reeco Hackett surged forward from deep, cut inside, and fired into the far corner to reduce the deficit to 4-2 with six minutes remaining. When substitute Jovon Makama bundled in a scrappy goal deep into stoppage time, Oakwell’s atmosphere turned from celebration to tension.
Clarke's Reaction
"Inside, I’m happy we’ve won, but we made hard work of it — it’s the story of our season to a certain extent."
Clarke praised his side’s clinical finishing, but warned the players they can’t afford to switch off.
"We’ve shown what we’re capable of with the goals we scored, but we’re still making poor decisions late in games. We need to find a way to be more composed
Team Lineups
Barnsley (3-5-2)
Smith; McCarthy, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe (Lembikisa HT), Phillips (Benson 59), Nwakali, Russell, Gent (Barratt 82); Keillor-Dunn (Rodrigues 82), Humphrys (Watters 59).
Unised Substitutes: Flavell, Bland.
Yellow Cards: O’Keeffe.
Goals: Keillor-Dunn (13’), Phillips (34’), Gent (56’), Watters (77’).
Lincoln City (3-5-2)
Jeacock; Montsma, Jackson, Roughan; Darikwa (Hamer 81), Bayliss, McGrandles (Gardner 73), Hamilton (Hackett 55), Jefferies; Draper (Collins 55), House (Makama 55).
Unused Substitutes: Wickens, Clucas.
Yellow Cards: Jefferies.
Goals: Darikwa (67’), Hackett (84’), Makama (90+2’).
Match Stats
| Stat | Barnsley | Lincoln City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 45.3% | 54.7% |
| Total Shots | 5 | 12 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 5 |
| Blocked Shots | 0 | 4 |
| Passing Accuracy | 73.4% | 75.5% |
What’s Next?
Barnsley’s attention turns immediately to Tuesday night, when they visit Charlton Athletic in a potentially season-defining clash.
With three wins in a week, Clarke’s men head south in good spirits, but will need to tighten up at the back to avoid another nail-biter.
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t pretty — and it certainly wasn’t stress-free — but Barnsley’s play-off dream remains intact after another dramatic afternoon at Oakwell.
There’s still plenty for Clarke to work on, especially when it comes to seeing games out, but nine points from nine means the momentum is back.
Next Up:
Charlton Athletic (A) – Tuesday 4th March 2025
Post a Comment
To be published, comments must be reviewed by the administrator *