BARNSLEY 1 CITY 2
League Division 2
24th September 1988
Attendance 9,300
Scorers
CityWhite(72), Morley(85)
Barnsley Shotton(89)
Ref J Ashworth
City Dibble, Seagraves, Gayle, Hinchcliffe, I Brightwell, Redmond, White, McNab, Lake, Morley, Moulden – Subs Gleghorn(unused), Biggins(unused)
Barnsley Baker, Joyce, Beresford, Thomas, Shotton, Futcher, Lowndes, Agnew, Cooper, Currie, Dobbin – Subs McGugan, Marshall
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 24TH SEPTEMBER 1988
Manchester City gave Barnsley a battering in the pursuit of a fifth successive game without defeat at Oakwell this afternoon.
The home side were made to soak up enormous pressure as the Blues lined up a hatful of victories following the pick-me-up successes over Brighton and Chelsea.
Brian Gayle and Andy Hinchcliffe went agonisingly close and Neil McNab shot just over the bar as City remained the classier and more composed side in an always interesting and eventful match.
Both sides opened brightly with the Blues, as eary as the first minute, threatening the home goal.
McNab delicately chipped in his free-kick from the left, Moulden turned sweetly on his marker, but failed to finish the job as he jabbed hi shot over the bar.
… With eight minutes gone, Hinchcliffe drove a long pass forward and when Morley took up the running Shotton sprang to the home side’s rescue with a timely tackle.
… However it was Barnsley who came closest to scoring when the corner from Lownes was kicked on by Currie and Cooper’s header across the face of the City goal dipped inches wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.
… The Blues gradually began to emerge the more assertive side and in the 29th minute Hinchcliffe swung in a fine cross from the left, only for Gayle coming in from beyond the far post, to head tantalisingly wide of the upright.
… In the 34th minute, Beresford’s clearance from Lake fell at the feet of McNab and City’s influential midfielder clipped in a cheeky 18 yarder that dipped inches over the crossbar.
Five minutes from half-time Hinchcliffe whipped over another cross from the left that Baker palmed behind as Barnsley continued to soak up the pressure.
Half-time: Barnsley 0 Manchester City 0.
City quickly resumed where they had left off with White galloping off down the right before delivering the cross from which Brightwell headed straight into the arms of Baker.
… With an hour gone Brightwell made a rare mistake, failing to clear as Agnew challenged on the edge of the penalty area. The ball broke loose and Thomas drove in a wicked shot that Dibble could only palm away.
However, City kept their cool and two minutes later a screaming 30 yarder from Seagraves cleared the crossbar. Moulden following up with an equally fine effort that also shaved the framework.
City finally got their reward in the 72nd minute when, following a string of Hinchcliffe corners, White climbed at the far post to head his side into the lead.
Brightwell had the ball in the net after 78 minutes, but the linesman’s flag was already up and the effort was cancelled out.
… In the 85th minute City increased their lead and wrapped up the points when Morley clinically chipped in after fine work by Moulden and Lake to give the Blues their third successive victory after a nightmare start to the season.
But City still had to fight for success, with Shotton scoring with a fiercely struck shot following a corner on the left.