Barnsley 1-2 Cambridge United
Sky Bet League One
Saturday 17th October 2026
Cambridge United’s unbeaten start on the road in Sky Bet League One continued as they produced a last-gasp 1-2 triumph over Barnsley at Oakwell…
Despite falling behind on the brink of half-time when Vimal Yoganathan converted from a scramble, an inspired substitution at the break saw Shayne Lavery come on to tee up Ben Knight for his fifth goal of the season early in the second half before the striker created bedlam at the death by lashing home to make it three wins on the spin and see his side go within a point of the top of the table.
Ramping up the momentum by the game, the fearless visitors arrived off the back of an eight-match unbeaten run and were keen to extend that going into a busy three-week spell of football. They were up against a youthful Barnsley outfit in South Yorkshire who were yet to find their feet, going seven without victory – including five defeats in that time - and eager to put things right in front of their own crowd.
A week on from overcoming Blackpool late in the day at the Cledara Abbey, Neil Harris made one change to his starting XI as Owen Moxon came in for Sullay Kaikai, who was absent from the squad after the birth of his child on the Friday.
In spite of no clear-cut opportunities during the opening stages, Cambridge relished the battle in the middle of the park and looked particularly industrious on the right flank where most of their moves originated from.
Daniel Stendel’s men came agonisingly close to drawing first blood on the 17th minute when an excellent cross from the edge of the area by Patrick Kelly was on a plate for a lurking Cameron McGeehan at the six-yard box, whose header was stopped at point-blank range by Jake Eastwood, falling to Tobi Adeyemo for the follow-up who pulled the trigger but an important block from Cathal Heffernan sparked applause from the visiting fans.
Just shy of the half hour mark, United showcased their threat in the air when Moxon’s corner was met by the head of Gassan Ahadme, who peeled away from his man and aimed for the near post but an instinctive clearance from Arley Kay terminated the attempt.
Moments later, Eastwood was called into action again with a low dive to deny a 20-yard strike from Rylan Brownlie, who had struck with power. It was during a spell where the hosts were on top, with the U’s yet to get any change out of the Tykes and lacked the creativity to unlock them.
Five minutes before the whistle, Neil Harris’ side were undone when Reyes Cleary’s corner was initially clawed away by Eastwood, but it cued pinball in the six-yard box with plenty of swipes as Yoganathan delivered the final blow in the scramble by tapping in at the back post.
Ultimately, it was a messy one to concede and conclude a scrappy first half where Cambridge were unable to click into gear.
Determined to hit the ground running for the second half, a double swap was made as the directness of Ra’ees Bangura-Williams and know-how of Lavery were called upon.
Finding the urgency they required, the visitors made the most of their first golden opportunity of the afternoon when Lavery did exceptionally well to wriggle past a few challenges deep on the left, drive into the box and supply an unmarked Knight with a cutback who directed home to extend their streak of scoring in every league game.
The encounter had now opened up and, in end-to-end fashion, chances arrived thick and fast. On 63, Cleary cut inside and went for curl but a wicked deflection from Heffernan forced a corner, before Yoganathan’s fierce shot was blocked and Brownlie beat Eastwood to a header but nestled it onto the roof of the net.
Under the cosh and needing to get their bodies on the line, the U’s were tested by livewire Cleary again on the 72nd minute when he fizzed a shot low towards the near post but great reflexes from the number one kept the Reds at bay.
As the game reached its latter stages, the travellers piled on the pressure. Rogan Ravenhill remained stern to catch Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s header on 86, before the midfielder dinked to Knight who aimed a half-volley from 15 yards towards the far corner, but it was cleared.
With three minutes of injury time indicated, and just when a share of the spoils seemed likely, Cambridge sparked pandemonium in front of the visiting 700 by grabbing a last-gasp winner. Substitutes combined when George Hoddle poked to Louis Appere, whose low shot was saved by Ravenhill but crucially towards the path of Lavery who was there at the right place at the right time to smash into the net for a third successive victory.
Up next, a quick turnaround sees United welcome Wycombe Wanderers to CB5 on Tuesday (20th October) – be sure back the boys as they eye a third successive home win.
Barnsley: Ravenhill, Noslin, O’Riordan, Shepherd, Kay, McGeehan, Yoganathan (Reid, 81’), Adeyemo (Taylor, 84’), Kelly, Cleary, Brownlie (Richards, 82’)
Subs Not Used: Slicker, Gale, Okedina, Bland
Goalscorers: Yoganathan (40’)
Bookings: Cleary, Kay, O’Riordan, Adeyemo, Shepherd
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Heffernan, Watts, Bradshaw, Bennett, Ball (Hoddle, 65’), Moxon (Bangura-Williams, 46’), Heath (Lavery, 46’ (Bauer, 90+2’)), Knight, Mpanzu, Ahadme (Appere, 76’)
Subs Not Used: Breeze, Curtis
Goalscorers: Knight (51’), Lavery (90+1’)
Bookings: Bangura-Williams, Lavery, Knight
Referee: David Rock