Barnsley 1 Stockport 0

Last updated : 08 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Barnsley eased their relegation troubles with a crucial victory over fellow strugglers Stockport.

The victory edged Barnsley closer to the safety zone and nudged Carlton Palmer's Stockport side nearer to the drop.

Bruce Dyer gave the home side the victory with his 14th goal of the season after just ten minutes.

The goal came after Anthony Kay threaded an inch perfect pass that undid Stockport's defence for Dyer to take a touch before drilling a shot in from 15 yards.

Front man Luke Beckett hit a shot on the turn that went into the side netting, but after the scare Barnsley controlled the first half as Stockport tried to re-shape switching to three at the back and five in the middle.

The home side could have stretched their lead after 25 minutes when Gary Jones hit a deflected shot that had keeper Ola Tidman scrambling to palm the ball away.

A brave run out of his area by keeper Tidman did enough to distract Barnsley striker Mike Sheron and he hoisted his shot over the top, a minute later.

And then Dyer fired in a low cross Kevin Donovan blasted a 25-yarder high over the top.

Barnsley had a scare three minutes into the second half when a volley from Peter Clark from 25 yards needed a block by Chris Morgan to keep Stockport at bay.

But despite having huge slices of possession in the second half Stockport rarely threatened Andy Marriott's goal and the Barnsley keeper didn't make a save the whole afternoon.

But in injury time Stockport's best effort saw Marriott beaten when Rob Clare headed a cross from Dave Challinor but the ball smacked off the upright denying Stockport a point.