Kieffer Moore rescues point for Barnsley as Oxford let two-goal lead slip

Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2019 by PA

Barnsley gave their promotion hopes a boost by battling back from two goals down to earn a spirited 2-2 draw at Oxford.

It extended their unbeaten league run to eight games, but they were given a shock by struggling Oxford.

Josh Ruffels headed the U’s into a 25th-minute lead at a corner, and Jamie Mackie forced goalkeeper Adam Davies into an error before knocking in a second goal early in the second half.

Mamadou Thiam pulled one back for the Tykes with 20 minutes to go.

And substitute Kieffer Moore then slickly turned in Jacob Brown’s pass in the 79th minute with his 17th goal of the season.

Karl Robinson’s team were unlucky not to win, though, because they struck the crossbar three times.

Gavin Whyte’s effort when he lobbed the keeper from 30 yards was especially unlucky as the ball bounced down onto the goal-line.

Ruffels opened the scoring when he nodded in from three yards after Rob Dickie won a header at the back post following a corner.

Striker Mackie slotted home in the 48th minute after challenging Davies from Jamie Hanson’s long ball forward, but Thiam and Moore ensured that Barnsley returned to South Yorkshire with a valuable point.