Barnsley lost 2-0 at Conference side Halifax Town in their first pre-season match of the season on Saturday.

 

The Reds fielded a very young side and conceded two poor goals in the last five minutes of the second half. First Matty Pearson beat teenagers Brad Abbott and Jack Cowgill far too easily to a dropping ball in the box before firing in. A long punt down the pitch then completely opened up the visitors are Scott Boden ran through to score.

 

It was a disappointing afternoon for the 690 Reds fans who travelled to the Shay and outnumbered the home supporters.

 

Barnsley boss Danny Wilson - who insisted the match was just about experience and match fitness for his young squad - admitted Danny Rose could have had a hat-trick in the first half.

 

The 20-year-old striker saw a shot cleared off the line after getting away with a handball then scuffed wide from five yards out after a fine across from impressive trialist Will Hoskins who then set up Rose again but the home goalkeeper saved well. All of those chances were at 0-0.

 

Hoskins fired wide just after the break from a fine Dale Jennings pass then youngsters James Bree and Nana Boakye came close during a frantic goalmouth scramble.

 

Halifax had several chances to make the scoreline more embarrassing for the visitors but goalkeeper Adam Davies made a string of fine saves.

 

Team: Steele (Davies HT), McKnight, (Bree HT), Cowgill (Nyatanga HT), Cranie (McHale 80mins), Kennedy (Smith HT); Abbott, Digby (M'voto HT), Hourihane (McKnight 67); Noble-Lazarus (Jennings (HT), Rose, (O'Grady HT), Hoskins (Nana 67).