Reds get biggest win of season

Barnsley continued their fine form as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Michael Duff’s former club Cheltenham Town – their biggest winning margin of the season.

The Reds were 2-0 up after 15 minutes thanks to James Norwood’s finish following an excellent team move and a Herbie Kane long-range stunner. Adam Phillips curled in a tremendous free-kick before half-time then Jordan Williams added another after the break.

The Reds were dominant throughout and recorded a fifth win from their last six games.

They remain sixth, three points clear of the sides outside the play-off places.

Nicky Cadden’s partner had gone into labour so he was not involved. Ziyad Larkeche made his second league start at left wing-back.

Phillips came in for Jon Russell and Luke Thomas was back on the bench after four months out with a broken leg.

The Reds were well on top from the start and took the lead in the eighth minute through a superb team move. After a long spell of possession, Kane sent a superb pass from the left wing over to Jordan Williams on the right and he pulled it back Phillips just inside the box who set up Norwood for a close-range finish.

Seven minutes later, it was 2-0 as Luca Connell’s corner was headed out to Kane who lashed a fantastic shot into the top left corner from outside the box.

The third goal was another magnificent long-range strike as Phillips’ free-kick nestled in the top left corner for his seventh of the season.

Norwood was then released down the left but his shot from a tight angle went across goal and wide, before Phillips skied a volleyed chance over on the right of the box.

In the second half, Slobodan Tedic came on and almost got his first Barnsley goal when he headed wide from close range after meeting a Larkeche cross.

The fourth goal saw Kane play Williams in on the right of the box and he impressively smashed a shot from a tight angle in on off the crossbar for his fifth of the season.

Luke Thomas then came off the bench to a big cheer from the raucous away end.

The hosts had their first shot on target in the 85th minute when Ryan Broom’s powerful low effort from just inside the box was saved by Harry Isted diving to his left, before the rebound was sliced over.

Home goalkeeper Luke Southwood then dived to his left to keep out Connell’s low long-range shot and also blocked from Tedic on the rebound at a tight angle.

Barnsley (3-5-2); Isted; B Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; J Williams (Cotter 75mins), Kane, Connell, Phillips (Thomas 75), Larkeche; Cole (Tedic 58), Norwood (Shaw 67).

Unused: Searle,Russell, Martin.

Goals: Norwood 8, Kane 15, Phillips 36, Williams 74.

Cheltenham (3-5-2): Southwood; Long, Taylor, Baggott (Raglan 72mins); Jackson (Olayinka 72), Bonds (Barkers 72), Perry, Sercombe (Ferry 62), Broom; May, Brown (Keena 62). Unused: MacDonald, Norton.