Reds thrash Mapgies to reach second round

The result meant the Reds have won the first four of their five consecutive home games and now have not lost in 14 at Oakwell since March. Barnsley could have scored several more goals in a dominant second half display. 

Head coach Daniel Stendel, having made ten changes for the midweek Checkatrade Trophy win over Everton under 21s, returned almost to the side that beat Southend United in League One the previous Saturday. Fryers replaced Dani Pinillos at left-back and Woodrow came in for Mike Bahre as Barnsley returned to 4-4-2. 

Barnsley began slowly then got on top but the first half was a story of missed chances and good opportunities to get in behind the visitors as they failed to make the killer pass at the right times. 

County, who are one place above the relegation zone into non-league football, thought they had taken the lead in the second minute when a right-wing free-kick by Rob Milsom went all the way in but it was ruled out for offside against one of his team-mates who was judged to be interfering with play.

Another Milsom free-kick from almost the same place was headed wide by Elliott Hewitt while Nathan Thomas fired a good chance wide in space in the home box after a quick break. 

Barnsley’s best early chance fell to Moore who volleyed high and wide in the County box after Alex Mowatt clipped a pass over the visiting defence. Moore then saw a looping header from Mamadou Thiam’s cross easily saved by Ross Fitzsimons.

The County goalkeeper had to make a better save minutes later, blocking with his legs from Woodrow who was put through on the right of the box by an exceptional backheel by Moore. 

Thiam had three long-range shots which were easily saved by Fitzsimons then, at the other end, Jamie Turley sent an overhead kick wide from eight yards out after another Milsom free-kick was half cleared by Liam Lindsay. 

Moore should have made it 1-0 on the stroke of half-time but blazed badly over from ten yards out after Mowatt played in Fryers on the left of the box and he pulled the ball back well. 

Woodrow opened the scoring three minutes into the second half with a good low volleyed finish from ten yards out after a right-wing cross was deflected into the air. It was 2-0 five minutes later when left-back Fryers ventured into the box and produced a cool finish from close range after a cross by Brad Potts who had made a fine run down the right. 

Thiam almost got a third on the hour after exchanging passes with Woodrow on the edge of the box but his save from the left was beaten away by Fitzsimons at his near post. Moore then shot straight at the goalkeeper from a tight angle on the left and Potts missed the ball when it fell nicely to him 15 yards out from a left-wing cross. 

Moore then whizzed a cross through the six-yard box after a good move on the left but a sliding Potts could only get a slight touch on it with the open goal gaping and the ball went wide. An identical move brought the third goal as this time Moore’s pass was perfect and Potts slotted into the open goal five yards out. 

Barnsley then broke all the way from a County corner and substitute Mike Bahre swapped passes with Potts before forcing Fitzsimons into another good stop then Ethan Pinnock headed the resulting corner wide. 

The fourth goal was headed in by Moore from close range at the back post after Thiam lofted up a cross from the left side of the box. Moore almost got a second but was denied by an excellent one-handed Fitzsimons save after Potts brilliantly beat a man on the right wing and found the striker with a superb crossfield pass.

Moore was again denied by Fitzsimons who blocked onto the bar after the striker was found five yards out by a good right-wing Thiam cross.

Barnsley team: Davies; Cavare (Brown 68mins), Lindsay, Pinnock, Fryers; Potts, McGeehan, Mowatt (Hedges 77), Thiam; Moore, Woodrow (Bahre 68). Subs: Greatorex, Hedges, Moncur, Jackson, Pinillos.  Yellow cards: Lindsay. Goals: Woodrow 48, Fryers 43, Potts 76, Moore 81.  Notts County: Fitzsimmons; Turley, Ward, Brisley, Evina;  Alessandra, Hewitt, Milsom, Thomas (Jones 72); Dennis (Etete 72), Boldewijn. Subs: Pindroch, Duffy, Hawkridge, Davies, Dunn.  Yellow cards: Milsom.