By Mikey Hale
Share
Another big three points on the road
Town moved to within three points of securing promotion from League One with a convincing victory at play-off hopefuls Barnsley.
Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst netted in quick succession at the end of the first half to put the Blues in front, with Conor Chaplin adding a third late on against a side who had won their previous nine home games.
The first chance of the evening went the way of the hosts, with Jordan Williams blazing high and wide of Christian Walton's goal following a deep cross.
Town were inches away from opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Cameron Burgess intercepted a pass just inside the Blues' half before lifting the ball over the top of the defence for Broadhead. The Welshman flashed a cross from the right across the face of goal. It ran through to Leif Davis, with the left-back playing it to the edge of the area to Massimo Luongo, who curled his shot onto the underside of the crossbar.
A strong spell for Barnsley followed, with a combination of the defence and Walton repelling a series of crosses into a dangerous area.
The next opportunity of note, however, was at the other end with just over half an hour played. Chaplin and Broadhead combined in the middle of the park, with the latter playing Hirst in on goal. The striker raced into the box but, from a narrowing angle, dragged his effort wide of the bottom corner.
Broadhead broke the deadlock in the final minute of the half as his header following a Davis corner snuck in at the near post.
Moments later, Town doubled their lead. Hirst raced towards the box and shrugged off both Mads Andersen and Liam Kitching before rifling an unstoppable
The Blues were awarded a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 early in the second half as the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Wes Burns was brought down by a combination of two defenders inside the area. Broadhead hit the resulting spotkick well but Harry Isted guessed right to punch it away.
Harry Clarke saw a piledriver from range blocked a matter of seconds later, with Chaplin's right-footed volley from just inside the area landing in the grateful arms of Isted.
Slobodan Tedic went close to pulling one back for the hosts with just under 20 minutes remaining as his header from a powerful Williams cross flashed past the post.
Cole swivelled and hit a shot over the top of the frame five minutes later as the hosts continued to look for a way back into the game.
Chaplin put the result beyond any doubt in the 81st minute. Hirst latched onto a ball over thet top of the defence before seeing a shot saved by the onrushing Isted. Chaplin took one touch to control the rebound before coolly lobbing the 'keeper against his former side.
Barnsley: Isted, Williams (Cotter 83'), Russell (Benson 57'), Kitching, Andersen (C), Cadden, Kane, Norwood (Tedic 57'), B Thomas, Phillips (L Thomas 69'), Cole (Watters 83').
Subs: Collins, Larkeche.
Booked: Russell, Cole.
Town: Walton, Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns (Jackson 83'), Morsy (C), Luongo (Ball 83'), Davis (Leigh 76'), Chaplin, Broadhead (Harness 83'), Hirst (Ladapo 83').
Subs: Hladky, Edwards.
Booked: Hirst, Morsy, Walton.