Barnsley 2 Charlton 2
There was late drama as Charlton and Barnsley both netted in stoppage time in a 2-2 draw at Oakwell.
Substitute Luke Berry scored two excellent goals as the Addicks came from a goal behind to go ahead in the 93rd minute before Max Watters late, late equaliser.
Miles Leaburn, making his first start in 11 months, nearly gave Charlton the perfect start within the first minute. The 20-year-old daintily danced into the Barnsley box but his left-footed shot was too close to goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina who gathered comfortably.
The Addicks next came close 19 minutes later with the move of the first half. Conor Coventry received the ball well, playing a neat one-two with Allan Campbell before a first-touch pass to Matty Godden. The Addicks captain’s shot just cleared the crossbar.
After a slow start Barnsley had their best spell just after the half-hour mark. Will Mannion batted away Josh Earl’s shot and then saved superbly from Georgie Gent’s effort from the edge of the area.
The home side made the mini-spell of pressure count, with Davis Keillor-Dunn tapping in from close range on the rebound after Mannion saved from Stephen Humphrys.
After starting the game in a 4-box-2 formation, Charlton came out for the second half in a 3-5-2, matching the home side. The Addicks had the first chance to score of the second half when Leaburn manoeuvred himself away from the attention of two Barnsley defenders with a tight turn in the middle of the pitch. He passed to his strike partner, Godden whose shot was straight at Slonina.
Another spell of Barnsley pressure followed with Keillor-Dunn heading over. Jon Russell was then denied, first by the crossbar and then by Leaburn on the goalline. Mannion then did well to keep out Keillor-Dunn as the Addicks hung in the game.
After withstanding the pressure Jones’ side levelled in spectacular fashion with 13 minutes to go. Neither side could control a bouncing ball in the penalty area and a half-clearance from substitute Matthew Craig dropped to Berry at the edge of the area, whose controlled volley under pressure arrowed into the goal.
The Addicks went ahead in the third minute of stoppage time when Slonina could only parry Tyreece Campbell’s cross into the path of Berry who lofted over the goalkeeper into the empty net.
The home side struck right back two minutes later, a loose ball falling into the path of Watters who finished well in the penalty area to ensure the points were shared.
Charlton return to The Valley to take on Wrexham in front of a bumper crowd on Saturday.
Barnsley: Slonina, Russell, Roberts, de Gevingney, O’Keeffe, Gent, Earl, Keillor-Dunn (Jalo 90), Humphrys (Cosgrove 89), Yoganathan (Craig 63), Connell (c) (Watter 78)
Subs (not used): Cotter, Pines, Lofthouse
Goals: Keillor-Dunn 34, Watters 90+5
Booked: Roberts 22 (foul on A.Campbell), Earl 70 (foul on Mannion) Connell 71 (kicking the ball away)
Charlton: Mannion; Edmonds-Green, A.Mitchell, Gillesphey, Edwards (Small 62); Coventry, Taylor (Berry 62), Anderson (Watson 46), A.Campbell; Leaburn (T.Campbell 71), Godden (c)
Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Docherty, Dixon
Goals: Berry 77, 90+3
Booked: Edmonds-Green 16 (foul on Gent)
Referee: Lewis Smith
Attendance: 12,441 (472 from Charlton)
