Barnsley collected their first league points of the season with a 2-1 success at Lincoln City on Saturday.

Sam Cosgrove’s early opener was followed by a Marc Roberts header just after the interval.

Lincoln pulled one back and missed chances as Barnsley scored from their only shots on target to beat the Imps in the league for the first time since 1973. It was Barnsley's first league win in eight attempts including last season.

Gabriel Slonina, Donovan Pines and Barry Cotter came in for Ben Killip, Corey O’Keeffe and Georgie Gent as Darrell Clarke made three changes from opening night loss to Mansfield. Josh Earl played at left wing-back.

Cosgrove opened the scoring on 13 minutes, curling a fine shot into the bottom left corner from just inside the box after a cross from the left was headed straight to him by a defender.

Adam Phillips then headed over a left-wing Luca Connell corner. But Connell gifted Lincoln a big chance on 35 minutes when he lost the ball and Tendai Darikwa played through Jovan Makama who was denied by a superb one-on-one stop by Slonina – the American sticking out his right arm to block the shot.

That was the first of a series of home chances as Ben House fired wide of the bottom right corner from just inside the box after Pines lost the ball deep in his half, then JJ McKiernan’s 18-yard rasping drive from the right whistled past the bottom left corner.

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Barnsley doubled their lead 70 seconds after the break when Mael de Gevigney played a free-kick to Barry Cotter on the right who brilliantly beat a defender and lofted up a cross for Roberts to head home a few yards out.

Slonina easily held a long-range Makama shot after a fine Bayliss run, then the hosts felt they should have had a penalty when Roberts slid in on Darikwa on the right of the box.

There was more refereeing controversy when Jon Russell appeared to hit a Lincoln player off the ball but was only shown a yellow card.

The hosts replied on 70 minutes when House found the bottom left corner from just inside the box after Barnsley could not clear a corner.

De Gevigney headed past Slonina but got back to avoid an own goal.

Paudie O’Connor could have levelled but his weak header was easily caught by Slonina.

Substitute Rob Street sliced over from close range after Roberts initially headed out a left-wing corner.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Slonina; de Gevigney, Pines, Roberts; Cotter (Lofthouse 78mins), Phillips (Gent 88), Craig (Russell 57), Connell, Earl; Watters (Marsh 57), Cosgrove.

Unused: Killip, Lopata, O’Keeffe.

Goals: Cosgrove 13, Roberts 47.

Lincoln (3-5-2): Wickens; Jackson (Hamer 75mins), O’Connor, Roughan; Darikwa, Erhahon, McKiernan (Moylan 54), Bayliss, Duffy; Makama (Draper 75), House (Street 85).

Unused: Jeacock, Jefferies, McGrandles,.

AS IT HAPPENED
  • GAME UNDERWAY
  • 3:01pm
    1 Barry Cotter long throw cleared then Barnsley lose the ball and Lincoln break. They have a two on one for a moment but there cross is cut out by Cotter for a corner on the right
  • 3:01pm
    2 Lincoln corner played back then cross headed out by Roberts
  • 3:02pm
    A Lincoln long throw is headed out by Cosgrove and cleared by Connell for another long throw on the left
  • 3:03pm
    3 Plenty of early defending for striker Cosgrove who heads out a throw,. Then Cotter impressively beats a man and passes to Cosgrove who is fouled near halfway. Good start for both of those two
  • 3:03pm
    Slonina free-kick headed on by Pines to Earl whose powerful cross hits Cosgrove then a defender and is cleared
  • 3:04pm
    4 Cotter throw on the right. Headed on by Earl but grabbed by the goalkeeper
  • 3:05pm
    Cotter and de Gevigney don't communicate, go for the same ball and Lincoln have a throw as a result
  • 3:06pm
    6 Roughan's throw on the left is well handled by Barnsley and the ball is shepherd out of play
  • 3:06pm
    The away end is noisy today. It's sold out and in good voice
  • 3:07pm
    Barnsley yet to really have an attack. Just a few long throws. But Lincoln have been similar
  • 3:09pm
    Josh Earl playing left wing back as suspected. Essentially four centre backs to the left of Barry Cotter
  • 3:10pm
    10 Roughan's long throw from the left is headed out by Pines then the cross is fumbled by Slonina but Barnsley get it then concede a free-kick as they try to counter attack
  • 3:10pm
    Free-kick bounces around Reds box then Phillips hooks it clear
  • 3:11pm
    12 Slonina clears on edge of box. Another long throw incoming on left
  • 3:12pm
    12 Roughan's throw is headed out by Roberts
  • 3:13pm
    Sam Cosgrove opens the scoring with a great finish Sam Cosgrove
  • 3:14pm
    GOAL!
    Sam Cosgrove Sam Cosgrove opens the scoring with a great finish
  • 3:14pm
    A cross from the left is not dealt with by a defender who heads it straight to the big striker who finds the bottom left corner with an excellent finish from just outside the area. Exactly what Barnsley needed from one of their strikers. Quality
  • 3:15pm
    Connell corner cleared to de Gevigney who is urged to shoot by the away end and drags well wide from about 35 yards
  • 3:18pm
    Now Watters gets down the left and wins a corner
  • 3:18pm
    19 Connell corner from left. Headed over by Phillips
  • 3:21pm
    JJ McKiernan has a long-range shot blocked by Pines. Chants of 'USA USA'
  • 3:22pm
    Barnsley have been on top since the goal, playing with more confidence. Can they find another?
  • 3:24pm
    Searching pass down the left almost puts Jovan Makama in behind the defence but Pines does really well to shepherd ball out and outmuscle the striker
  • 3:26pm
    The game is more even now after Barnsley looked in the ascendancy after scoring
  • 3:29pm
    Great run down by the left by Earl who crosses into the middle for Phillips who takes a touch then it's whipped off his toes 25 yards out
  • 3:29pm
    30 Cotter's throw is headed by Pines into a defender and behind for a corner on the right
  • 3:30pm
    31 Connell's corner from the right. It's caught by the goalkeeper at the back post
  • 3:33pm
    Lincoln still yet to create any real chances. Their best moment came in the second minute when they had a two on one but Cotter cut out the cross
  • 3:34pm
    34 Roberts long throw this time from the left. Headed out
  • 3:34pm
    Brilliant save by Slonina. Connell loses the ball after a Barnsley corner and Tendai Darikwa plays Jovan Makama clean through but Slonina makes a superb one on one stop with his left hand
  • 3:37pm
    37 Another Lincoln chance. This time Pines loses the ball on the edge of his box and Ben House fires wide of the bottom right corner just inside the box
  • 3:38pm
    39 Lincoln close again. This time a rasping drive by JJ McKiernan on the edge of the box on the right goes just wide of the bottom left corner
  • 3:39pm
    40 Cotter long throw on the right. Touched by Cosgrove but the goalkeeper gathers
  • 3:39pm
    Barnsley on the ropes a bit recently. They will want half time
  • 3:41pm
    42 Connell corner on right scrambled clear
  • 3:43pm
    44 Roughan long throw from left. Headed out by Cosgrove
  • 3:45pm
    45 Cosgrove almost put through by a backpass then wrestles with Paudie O’Connor and the free-kick hardly goes against him
  • 3:46pm
    House sends an overhead kick attempt well wide from a right wing crossx
  • 3:47pm
    HALF-TIME: Lincoln 0, Barnsley 1.
  • 4:02pm
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 4:02pm
    Lincoln long throw after 20 seconds. Half cleared then Bayliss' shot sliced up into air and Slonina catches
  • 4:03pm
    GOAL!
    Marc Roberts makes it two just after the break
  • 4:05pm
    Slightly surprised to see de Gevigney taking an attacking free-kick. Played to Cotter down the right who brilliantly beat a defender and lofted up a fine cross for Roberts to rise highest and head home. Nice goal
  • 4:06pm
    Roberts' first Barnsley goal since April 2017 at Blackburn Rovers
  • 4:07pm
    Or his second in six games for the club if you prefer that
  • 4:08pm
    Good run by Watters down the left but his cross just lacks the power to reach Cosgrove and goalkeeper gets it
  • 4:09pm
    Lincoln take off McKiernan for Jack Moylan who destroyed the Reds at Oakwell in the 5-1 in March
  • 4:12pm
    56 Roberts long throw on left. Bounces all the way through. The goalkeeper grabs it then runs into Cosgrove and of course gets the free-kick
  • 4:12pm
    Russell replaces Craig. His 50th Barnsley appearance. Marsh on for Watters
  • 4:14pm
    The away end is bouncing now but the home fans are still loud too
  • 4:14pm
    Break in play for a Barry Cotter injury
  • 4:15pm
    Attendance: 9,768 (1,845 away)
  • 4:17pm
    Cotter up and game re starts
  • 4:17pm
    62 Makama's long-range effort easily caught by Slonina, following a fine Tom Bayliss run
  • 4:18pm
    63 Bayliss free-kick from left. Over everyone and out
  • 4:20pm
    64 Appeals for a Lincoln penalty after Roberts slides in on Tendai Darikwa on the right of the box
  • 4:21pm
    Lincoln coming back into the game now as we approach the halfway point in the second half
  • 4:22pm
    Wow. Jon Russell lucky to get just a yellow card there. He looked like he struck a home player in the head off the ball. He gets a yellow
  • 4:26pm
    Lincoln corner on right
  • 4:27pm
    GOAL!
    Ben House pulls one back
  • 4:28pm
    Good finish into the bottom left corner after Barnsley don't clear a corner
  • 4:29pm
    Former Barnsley man Adam Jackson tries to head a long ball back to his goalkeeper and nods it wide for a corner
  • 4:30pm
    74 Connell corner on the left. Over everyone
  • 4:31pm
    Lincoln bring on Draper for Makama
  • 4:33pm
    Good move Barnsley. Connell wins all, Phillips plays in Cotter but his cross blocked behind for corner
  • 4:34pm
    Connell corner on right. It's cleared then nearly a comical own goal by Barnsley as de Gevigney heads past Slonina but gets back to collect and clear
  • 4:34pm
    Lofthouse on for Cotter
  • 4:35pm
    Chance for leveller after some head tennis in box, Paudie O’Connor nods weakly at Slonina
  • 4:37pm
    Another corner, firstly headed out by Pines then it goes back in and Slonina gets it eventually
  • 4:39pm
    83 Lincoln free-kick on left. Taken short. Roberts puts pressure on O'Connor who heads well off target
  • 4:41pm
    85 Lincoln win another corner on the left
  • 4:41pm
    Lincoln bring on Rob Street for House
  • 4:41pm
    85 Lincoln corner on left. Roberts heads away under bar then sub Street slices over from close range
  • 4:44pm
    Gent on for Phillips
  • 4:46pm
    Connell hasn't had his best game but gets back to intercept in the box crucially then Slonina gathers
  • 4:47pm
    Six added minutes
  • 4:49pm
    Barnsley win corner on left. Connell to take but they waste time in corner then Earl fouls
  • 4:51pm
    90+6 Bayliss free-kick headed behind by a defender who barely touched it after good pressure by Earl
  • 4:51pm
    That could be it. 30 seconds left
  • 4:52pm
    Sam Cossgrove wins free-kick on right
  • 4:53pm
    FULL-TIME: Lincoln 1, Barnsley 2. The Reds collect their first points of the season

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