Lincoln City rescued a point against Barnsley in Michael Skubala’s first home game in charge.
Danny Mandroiu’s fifth minute penalty gave City the lead, before the Tykes scored two goals in five minutes to turn the game around. However, TJ Eyoma found a late leveller to ensure a sharing of the points.
The Imps came into the game off the back of a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient in midweek, while Skubala’s first game was a reverse result.
Niell Collins’ Barnsley came to Lincolnshire out-of-form, with their only win in five coming in a now infamous FA Cup Replay against non-league Horsham.
However, the Tykes still occupy the last play-off spot, having scored the joint-most goals of any SkyBet League One team this season.
Lincoln’s new head coach had suspensions to worry about alongside the injury crisis, with Tuesday night’s match winner Ethan Hamilton missing this game having picked up too many yellow cards and captain Paudie O’Connor serving his last of a three-match ban.
First-Half:
There was an immaculately observed minute’s applause pre-match, to remember Anton Roberts, who died after this fixture last season.
It was a scrappy start in-front of a packed LNER Stadium, but the first couple of attacking flashes went the way of the visitors.
However, the deadlock was broken in the fifth minute by Lincoln City. Running down the left, Danny Mandroiu flicked a pass to Jack Burroughs, who was tripped by Jordan Williams on the edge of the Barnsley box.
Referee Ross Joyce pointed to the spot for a penalty that Mandroiu coolly placed into the bottom-right of Ben Killip’s goal, in-front of the sold-out away end.
Barnsley have conceded the most penalties of any team in the division so far this season, with Williams’ foul adding a sixth to the tally.
The Irish forward scored the only goal in Lincoln’s win at Oakwell last season and would’ve been hoping for the same again as the game settled down after a frantic start.
Jovon Makama was awarded his first league start and had a good chance in the 18th minute. Tykes’ defender Mael de Gevigney slipped, leaving the Imps man one-on-one with Killip. His shot was firm, but straight at the Barnsley ‘keeper, who pushed it away with his legs.
The visitors had their first real chance in the 28th minute as Nicky Cadden stung a half-volley from 20 yards out. Lukas Jensen sprung to his left and produced a strong save to keep the Imps a goal to the good.
The other side of the half-hour mark, Lincoln created another big opportunity. Ex-Barnsley man Adam Jackson won the ball back, allowing Ethan Erhahon to unleash Mandroiu down the left. He crossed the ball low and across the face of goal, with only a Jamie McCourt touch preventing Lasse Sorensen from poking it in at the back post.
As half-time came, Michael Skubala’s side were still in the lead. The first-half had ebbed and flowed, with chances coming at both ends. Mandroiu’s strike came against the run of play, in a first 45 minutes that was even at best for the Imps.
Second-Half:
Lincoln City had the momentum straight after the break, as Sorensen’s shot was blocked into the path of Makama. However, he couldn’t get a strike away.
Up the other end, former-Liverpool man Herbie Kane stood a ball up to the back post. Barnsley’s top-scorer Devante Cole met it with a header, but the Imps managed to scramble the ball clear.
The Imps were proving a threat on the counter-attack, but League One’s joint-top scorers were causing their own problems at the other end.
Ted Bishop made his return from injury in the 64th minute, as he and Jack Vale replaced Jovon Makama and Alistair Smith.
Barnsley were starting to take charge of the game, Jensen produced a fantastic save to deny a sharp Callum Styles effort, but the Tykes had their equaliser a minute later.
In the 67th minute, Barry Cotter scored his fourth of the season, tapping home a John McAtee at the back post. The away fans went into rapture, and perhaps they saw blood in the water, with Barnsley relentlessly on the front-foot.
The second goal came less than five minutes later as McAtee went from provider to goal scorer. Substitute Sam Cosgrove received the ball in the middle of the box and played it around the corner to Jordan Willaims, who crossed it into the welcoming path of McAtee for a simple tap-in.
Things continued to go from bad to worse for Lincoln, as fan-favourite Sorensen was subbed-off with an injury.
With ten minutes to go, Mandroiu curled a free-kick from 25 yards out over Killip’s crossbar, as the Imps sought a leveller.
Vale had an effort deflected wide and Jackson had a header saved before Lincoln made their late pressure count as TJ Eyoma found an equaliser. He knocked the ball past Killip with a strong strike from an in-swinging corner.
Despite chances for both sides in the seven minutes of additional time, it was a sharing of the points at the final whistle.
Lincoln City 2-2 Barnsley:
TJ Eyoma’s late strike secured a point for Lincoln City on a cold November afternoon. It meant Barnsley had failed to beat the Imps for the fourth time in two seasons, following two Lincoln wins and a goalless draw last season.
Michael Skubala’s side were second-best for much of the game, but found a way to weather the Barnsley storm and score a leveller late-on.
The point kept City in ninth place in SkyBet League One.