Barnsley 0
Stevenage 1
League (League One)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

A Dan Kemp goal two minutes into stoppage time handed Stevenage a big win away to Barnsley.

They had created the better chances in the game even though Barnsley had started to have more of the pressure.

It appeared that their struggles in front of goal would prevent Boro from getting three points until Kemp popped up with a header.

One enforced change surrounding a Thompson became two when Nathan moved to MK Dons last night.

Louis was already out suspended.

Charlie Goode and Harvey White replaced them while Jake Young's starring show at Orient gave him a start in place of Elliott List.

Lewis Freestone replaced Kane Smith at left back in the fourth and final switch from the Wigan loss last week.

For those counting, the line-up featured six changes from that Vertu Trophy game in east London.

The first half at Oakwell was about as typical a Stevenage performance as you get away from home these days.

They had to see a spell of home pressure that lasted for around 15 minutes but the start and the finish of the half belonged to the visitors.

And they had the two real opportunities of the half.

Jordan Roberts had the first after a Barnsley throw inexplicably went straight to him. His deflected shot, however, flicked off a defender and was pushed over the top by the retreating Ben Killip.

The second saw Young wriggle into the box although he was never fully under control of his own feet, the bumps and barges keeping him stumbling.

He did manage to get the shot away but it was straight at Killip who beat it away with his legs.

Aside from that, neither side were able to turn possession into goals.

Again it was Boro who looked more dangerous but twice passes to Roberts were overhit when a far less firm delivery was needed.

Barnsley were also guilty of far too many unforced errors. That was expected to change in the second period.

And it did as the pressure and a rapidly increasing corner count belonged to the Tykes.

However, Murphy Cooper was a relatively untroubled man as his defence turned things away.

When he was called into action, it was after the main peak of the home attack had fizzled out.

And the longer it went on, the more you felt that the one key opportunity would fall to the Boro.

Reid should have scored but spurned a glorious chance with eight minutes to go, curling a shot from inside the box high and wide.

However, into stoppage time a perfectly delivered cross from Luther Wildin finding Kemp ghosting in between defenders to head home.

List could have sealed it afterwards but from a similar position to Reid, he shot wide too.

It didn't matter, Boro sealing the victory.