Although Phillips provided an early tester for Will Murdock with a decent attempt, the Reds went ahead from our first dangerous attack of the night. Obi robbed Vimal Yoganathan, who ended up bringing the striker down in the box. Instead of waiting to see if a penalty would be awarded, Jack Fletcher was on hand to profit with a deflected strike that flew past Kieren Flavell.
It was another nice moment for the midfielder on the ground where he scored a couple of belters in a previous tie in this competition and also coming in front of his father Darren, who was watching in the stand.
The next clear opening came in the 24th minute, when Shea Lacey looked set to double the lead but, after dummying onto his left foot, his low effort was saved by Flavell. The home keeper’s next stop was more comfortable, when Obi tried to exploit a good ball down the line by Bendito Mantato, but he was relieved to see Obi flash a Mantato cross wide, which came to the young hitman at an awkward height.
Seconds later, Barnsley were denied an equaliser, against the run of play, when a perfect delivery from the left by raiding full-back Nathanael Ogbeta was headed against a post by Phillips and the rebound bounced back off the Tykes’ no.8 but Murdock dived to clutch it gratefully.
After that let off, Flavell was equal to a fierce, fizzing drive by Jack Fletcher from outside the area and Mantato opted to square rather than shoot when it came out to him, with the Yorkshiremen clearing their lines. United had looked comfortable but were guilty of overplaying at the back, with Murdock put under pressure and Dan Armer’s lunge bringing Phillips down.
McGoldrick stepped up to slam home the spot-kick and, although Lacey again illustrated his threat by forcing another stop out of Flavell, it was all square going into the interval.
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