Half time: Barnsley 1-1 Reading
Written by Mark Stokes on Saturday 29th August 2009

Barnsley made two changes from the Tuesday night victory over Reading, while Reading had a big clear out with eight changes.

The game started at ligthning pace with Barnsley making the early running. Daniel Bogdanovic was close to getting a turn and shot in the opening minute. A long Kozluk throw eventually provided an opportunity for Campbell-Ryce but his shot went over the bar.

Drama after five minutes when Kozluk's ball went into the box and macken got a good shot away. There were appeals for a penalty when Foster went down, but the referee, Michael Oliver, was not interested.

Andy Gray nearly got his debut goal in Barnsley's colours managing to twist himself around the Reading defence and get a shot that Federici saved.

Quickly Barnsley had another good chance when Macken's cross fell for Bogdanovic and his shot was deflected for a corner. From the corner Andy Gray scored his first goal with a glancing header into the net with just 11 minutes gone.

Andy Gray made a beautiful pass with the inside of his foot to Campbell-Ryce, but his shot cum cross could not find a Barnsley player. With Barnsley well on top in the first 15 minutes the Oakwell crowd were buoyant.

Halfway through the first half and Hallfredsson cross went straight across the six yard box just begging for Macken to get a toe on it. So far Reading were not looking a good side. The team they fielded on Tuesday did better.

Pearce put the Reading keeper under pressure with a poor back pass and his clearance rebounded of Gray and went a foot wide of the post.

Reading then attacked with Kebe but Luke Steele was quick off the mark and snatched the ball from his feet.

Barnsley did invite pressure upon themselves with Foster's back pass and Luke Steele poor kick. Reading did win a corner before Colace cleared the lines.

Reading came back again and won a corner. No one could deal with the ball and they presented Reading with several chances until Pearce buried it into the back of Luke Steele's net. There was no getting away with it, the goal came from Barnsley playing back wards and giving Reading a sniff at goal. Would Barnsley live to regret that goal?

With 33 minutes gone JCR made one of his trademark mazy runs around Matt Mills, but his shot was dragged wide.

Reading's goal did give them a real boost and they started to get into the game. For some reason the five minutes leading up to the equaliser Barnsley had dropped back about ten yards and they were the architects of their own misfortune.

Karacan could easily have put Reading in front as he found himself with all the space he needed and Steele tried to cut his angle down and fortunately the shot went a yard wide of the post. The early form of the teams had firmly swapped around with Reading on top.

A minute later and Rosenior's shot was just wide of a stranded Steele. The defence had lost the way and half time couldn't come quick enough.

It was an entertaining first half, but no doubt the Barnsley players would get a stiff talking to by Simon Davey in the dressing room.

Scorers:

Barnsley: Andy Gray (11)

Reading: Alex Pearce (30)

Substitutions:

Barnsley:

Reading:

Barnsley Team

Steele, El Haimour, Kozluk, Foster, Moore, Hallfredsson, Colace, Campbell-Ryce, Macken, Bogdanovic, Gray.
Subs: Preece, Hammill, Oejayi, De Silva, Hume, Devaney, Thompson.

Reading Team

Federici, Rosenior, Mills, Gunnarsoon, Hunt, Kebe, Robson-Kanu, Karacan, Bertrand, Sigurdsson, Pearce
Subs: Cisse, Tabb, Long, Kelly, Rasiak, Antonio, Hamer.

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