George Moncur scored an 82nd-minute winner as Barnsley beat hosts Oldham Athletic in the first group game of the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday.

The Reds fell behind but young striker Victor Adeboyejo levelled seconds before half-time then substitute Moncur won it. 

Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel made ten changes from the side that beat Gillingham in the league on Saturday, potentially risking a fine for breaching competition rules. 

The only player to stay in the team was Liam Lindsay who was joined captain Adam Jackson at centre-back, while Jacob Brown – making his first professional start and usually a striker – played at right-back with debutant Ben Williams at left-back.

Jared Bird and Cameron McGeehan played in central midfield with Jordan Williams and Lloyd Isgrove on the wings and Adeboyejo up front with German debutant Mike-Steven Bahre. 

On the bench were first choice players Ethan Pinnock, Moncur and Mamadou Thiam as well as untested quartet Jake Greatorex, 18, Jordan Helliwell, 16, Jasper Moon, 17 and Kieran Feeney, 17.

Jack Walton played in goal in place of Adam Davies who is on international duty with Wales and had to make the first save of the game, diving low to his left to keep out Andrew Taylor’s free-kick. 

Adeboyejo forced a save out of home goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz with a weak shot on the turn from 15 yards out after Lindsay headed down a Bahre corner. Walton saved again after Callum Lang scuffed a close-range effort when Barnsley’s defence was undone by a long throw. 

Lang headed over a right-wing cross by Jonathan Benteke but the hosts went ahead in the 31st minute when Lindsay gave Sam Surridge far too much space to latch onto a long ball then power past the Scottish centre-back into the box before firing into the bottom right corner. 

Lindsay almost made amends but shot straight at the goalkeeper, who had dropped a cross by Ben Williams who then centred for McGeehan but his looping headed was easily caught. 

Walton clawed a long-range strike by Benteke – the brother of Premier League and Belgium striker Christian – out of his top left corner, then the Reds levelled minutes later.

Bird burst into the box from and was tackled but the ball rolled to Adeboyejo who, after bumping into team-mate Isgrove, poked in from eight yards out after Oldham’s defence could not react. 

Ethan Pinnock replaced Lindsay at half-time, then the second half was a lot quieter. Jonathan Benteke burst into the box down the right byline and forced Walton into a save then Andrew Taylor fired over from the edge of the box. 

Johan Branger-Engone beat Brown in the box but fired wide of the top left corner then McGeehan headed over a cross from substitute Mamadou Thiam.

It was another replacement who won it in Moncur with a curling 15-yard shot after Adeboyejo laid the ball off to him. 

Moncur and Adeboyejo then both saw shots easily saved before Walton prevented a penalty shoot-out with a superb point blank save from Benteke who looked certain to score after heading a left-wing cross. 

Barnsley now complete their group with games against Everton under 21s and Bradford City. 

AS IT HAPPENED
  • 18:13pm
     
    Good evening and welcome to the Chronicle’s live coverage of Barnsley’s Checkatrade Trophy match at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park, which kicks off at 7.30pm.
  • 18:30pm
     
    Team: Walton; J Williams, Lindsay, Jackson, B Williams; Bahre, McGeehan, Bird, Isgrove, Adeboyejo, Brown.
  • 18:31pm
     
    Subs: Greatorex, Pinnock, Moncur, Thiam, Moon, Helliwell, Feeney
  • 18:32pm
     
    So Daniel Stendel has made ten changes from the side that beat Gillingham in the league on Saturday, with only Liam Lindsay surviving
  • 18:36pm
     
    Debuts for Ben Williams and Mike-Steven Bahre, first starts for Jacob Brown and Jordan Williams.
  • 18:37pm
     
    The Reds may risk a fine by making so many changes but they have clearly deciding to rest their first team and prioritise the league
  • 18:42pm
     
    According to their ages on the club’s website, substitutes Kieran Feeney and Jasper Moon are 17 and Jordan Helliwell is 16.
  • 18:43pm
    This will be Barnsley’s first match in the EFL Trophy, for clubs in League One and League Two, since they won it in 2016 by beating Oxford United 3-2 at Wembley thanks to strikes by Ashley Fletcher, Adam Hammill and an own goal.
  • 18:47pm
     
    The competition has changed significantly since then, with a change of sponsor meaning it is now called the Checkatrade Trophy instead of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, while Premier League and Championship clubs can enter under 21s sides and the first round is a group stage.
  • 18:51pm
     
    The Reds and the Latics are in a group with Everton under 21s and Bradford City who visit Oakwell on October 9 and November 12 respectively.
  • 18:58pm
     
    Barnsley and Oldham have played each other 92 times, with Athletic winning 31 and the Reds 29. The South Yorkshire club have won the last six league meetings, doing the double in the 2005/06, 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
  • 19:04pm
    The last time the Reds visited Boundary Park was in November 2015 when Lee Johnson returned to his former club to end a run of eight successive league defeats with an 89th-minute winner from Kevin Long. They also won 2-1 at home under Paul Heckingbottom in the promotion run-in that season, with Sam Winnall netting a late penalty.
  • 19:06pm
    The previous season, the Reds won 1-0 at home thanks to Kane Hemmings’ goal then the reverse fixture came just six weeks later. In the meantime Johnson had moved from Oldham to Barnsley, and his new side won 3-1 with Lewin Nyatanga notching a brace and Conor Hourihane also scoring.
  • 19:09pm
     
    Those previous matches were crucial for Barnsley as they hunted promotion from League One, which is their main aim again this season
  • 19:12pm
    But Oldham were the last side to beat Barnsley in the EFL Trophy, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on October 7, 2014. The Reds had come from 2-0 down at half-time thanks to goals by Luke Berry and Sam Winnall, with the latter missing a penalty along with Kane Hemmings.
  • 19:20pm
     
    Barnsley have made an impressive start to the League One season, drawing two and winning four of their six matches so far. The Latics, who were also relegated earlier this year, have also begun well with three wins from their last four matches putting them sixth in League Two.
  • 19:21pm
    Former Barnsley striker Chris O’Grady plays for Oldham and has scored once in six games for this season. The 32-year-old netted 21 goals in 56 Championship games for the Reds in 2013 and 2014 but has scored just eight in 123 since leaving Oakwell to join Brighton then moving on Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Burton Albion and Chesterfield.
  • 19:25pm
     
    The teams are walking out onto the pitch with five minutes remaining until the kick-off
  • 19:27pm
     
    GAME UNDERWAY
  • 19:28pm
     
    The first thing to notice is that Jacob Brown is at right-back. He is usually a striker and this is his senior debut,
  • 19:30pm
     
    Brown is playing behind Jordan Williams who is at right wing, with Lloyd Isgrove on the left wing, Bird and McGeehan in the middle and Bahre with Adeboyejo up front
  • 19:32pm
     
    4 Barnsley have the first corner of the game, they play it short and Ben Williams' cross is headed clear
  • 19:33pm
     
    6 Lindsay concedes a foul for a clear push on Sam Surridge just outside the box and Oldham have a free-kick in a good position
  • 19:34pm
     
    Andrew Taylortakes the free-kick low and Jack Walton makes a decent save diving to his left
  • 19:34pm
     
    7 Barnsley then break on the counter-attack but Isgrove's cross from the left is blocked
  • 19:37pm
     
    Ten minutes in and there have been very few chances, with the only save being Walton's from a free-kick
  • 19:38pm
     
    Barnsley are just feeling their way into the game, with a very young and new team. Both full-backs Ben Williams and Jacob Brown have lost the ball with sloppy touches
  • 19:40pm
     
    This game is quite scrappy so far with both sides giving the ball away regularly in midfield
  • 19:41pm
     
    13 You can tell Jacob Brown hasn't done much defending in his career so far. The makeshift right-back flies into a sliding tackle and misses both the ball and the man by yards then handles the ball during his slide but gets away with it
  • 19:42pm
     
    Brown has produced some good defensive headers and has clearly been chosen for his athleticism and attacking ability
  • 19:43pm
     
    15 Barnsley have their first effort on target, Liam Lindsay heads down a Mike-Steven Bahre corner to Victor Adeboyejo who shoots on the turn from 15 yards but goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz easily gets down to his left to save.
  • 19:44pm
     
    Barnsley have started to put some good moves together, with McGeehan and Bird pulling the strings in midfield, Jordan Williams' poor touch ends one such move in a good position
  • 19:48pm
     
    20 A long throw from the right wing presents Oldham with a decent chance but Callum Lang cannot get enough power on his effort six yards out under pressure and Jack Walton gathers
  • 19:50pm
     
    Midway through the first half now, Oldham have had slightly the better of the game so far and marginally better chances but this team of fringe Barnsley players is holding its own
  • 19:52pm
    Here's Mike-Steven Bahre on his debut for Barnsley
  • 19:53pm
     
    26 Jordan Williams gets the ball just inside the home half in plenty of space. He runs forward then shoots from 25 yards but drags a poor effort badly wide of the left post
  • 19:54pm
     
    27 Ben Williams' cross is punched off the head of Lloyd Isgrove. That would probably have been a goal if Kieffer Moore was not being rested
  • 19:55pm
     
    Barnsley have enjoyed a good couple of minutes but still look a bit sloppy at the back, as shown when Ben Williams slips over and Oldham go on an attack which is snuffed out
  • 19:58pm
     
    30 Ben Williams is again beaten too easily at left-back and Jonathan Benteke crosses for Callum Lang who heads over from eight yards out
  • 19:58pm
     
    GOAL!
    Sam Surridge
  • 19:59pm
     
    It's an error by Liam Lindsay. the only player from the usual league team, who lets Sam Surridge get by him far too easily as he goes into the box from the left wing and finds the bottom right corner
  • 20:02pm
     
    Oldham had been the more dangerous team so far and deserve the lead just about
  • 20:04pm
     
    37 Lindsay has a chance to make amends after goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz drops Ben Williams' cross following a short corner but the centre-back shoots straight at the home stopper and the Latics clear
  • 20:07pm
     
    Not long until half-time now and Daniel Stendel might be thinking about a few changes as his side haven't really clicked so far. He has Moncur and Thiam on the bench
  • 20:10pm
     
    42 Ben Williams' crosses have been good and one is met by McGeehan whose looping header 12 yards out is caught by the home goalkeeper. Jack Walton then has to make a more difficult save, clawing Jonathan Benteke's long-ranger out of the top right corner
  • 20:11pm
     
    GOAL!
    Victor Adeboyejo equalises!
  • 20:13pm
     
    It's the 20-year-old's third goal of the season. Fellow youngster Jared Bird bursts into the box and is tackled but the ball squirts towards Adeboyejo and Isgrove who first get in each other's way before Victor eventually pokes in from close range
  • 20:14pm
     
    HALF-TIME: Oldham 1, Barnsley 1
  • 20:29pm
    Here's Adeboyejo's goal
  • 20:29pm
    And his celebration
  • 20:30pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Liam Lindsay
  • 20:30pm
     
    SUB ON
    Ethan Pinnock
  • 20:30pm
     
    SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
  • 20:32pm
     
    That change was almost certainly planned from the start to give the two first choice centre backs 45 minutes
  • 20:32pm
     
    47 Oldham have the first corner of the second half and McGeehan clears at the near post
  • 20:33pm
     
    48 Isgrove tries an acrobatic back heel one two with Brown who cannot quite reach it on the edge of the home box before a defender clears
  • 20:36pm
     
    51 Ethan Pinnock gives the ball away just outside his box but Oldham cannot make the most of it and Barnsley clear
  • 20:37pm
     
    52 Adam Jackson misses a header deep in his half then concedes a free-kick for a foul on the left wing
  • 20:38pm
     
    52 Barnsley head the free-kick clear and try to counter but a pass between Victor Adeboyejo and Lloyd Isgrove is intercepted
  • 20:39pm
     
    YELLOW CARD
    Adam Jackson loses out to Callum Lang then pulls him back, conceding a free-kick 30 yards from goal on the left
  • 20:40pm
     
    55 Johan Branger-Engone tries what would be a spectacular volley on the edge of the box but scuffs it well wide
  • 20:42pm
     
    SUB ON
    Jose Baxter
  • 20:42pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Christopher Missilou
  • 20:43pm
     
    The introduction of the former Sheffield United man wakens the home crowd up a little bit, as he is a fan favourite
  • 20:43pm
     
    Baxter will try to add a bit more control against Jared Bird and Cameron McGeehan who have probably been Barnsley's best players so far
  • 20:45pm
     
    60 Adeboyejo wins the ball in the middle and McGeehan leads a four on three break before passing to Bahre on the left who should shoot early but instead tries to cut inside and his effort is blocked
  • 20:45pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Sam Surridge
  • 20:46pm
     
    SUB ON
    Chris O'Grady
  • 20:47pm
     
    61 Jonathan Benteke cuts in from a very tight angle on the right of the Reds box and draws a save from Walton then Andrew Taylor fires the rebound over from 20 yards
  • 20:48pm
     
    Chris O'Grady's introduction was greeted with applause by the Barnsley fans, who remember his Player of the Year performances in 2013/14
  • 20:50pm
     
    443 Barnsley fans here today in a crowd of 1786
  • 20:51pm
     
    The away fans are getting slightly frustrated, chanting shoot when their team attacks. Jordan Williams does so but his 25-yard effort is blocked
  • 20:52pm
     
    Mamadou Thiam is about to come on for Barnsley
  • 20:53pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Lloyd Isgrove
  • 20:53pm
     
    SUB ON
    Mamadou Thiam
  • 20:55pm
     
    Stendel is clearly taking this competition at least slightly seriously if he is bringing on a first team player like Thiam
  • 20:57pm
     
    Another first teamer is coming on in Moncur
  • 20:57pm
     
    SUB OFF
    Mike-Steven Bahre
  • 20:58pm
     
    SUB ON
    George Moncur
  • 20:59pm
     
    Dan Gardner replaces Callum Lang for Oldham
  • 21:00pm
     
    Barnsley now have Jacob Brown, who has moved from right-back to right wing, George Moncur and Mamadou Thiam behind Victor Adeboyejo in a 4-2-3-1
  • 21:02pm
     
    A break while Jordan Williams receives some treatment, but he is now up and standing on the sidelines stretching with the physio
  • 21:03pm
     
    78 Johan Branger-Engone skips around Jacob Brown into the box and blasts an effort from the left side of the box which is narrowly wide of the top left corner
  • 21:04pm
     
    79 Another headed chance for McGeehan but he nods wide from ten yards out after meeting Thiam's cross
  • 21:04pm
     
    79 Sam Graham has to produce an excellent last-ditch tackle in the Oldham box to deny after a swift one, two with Thiam
  • 21:05pm
     
    Will the quality of Thiam and Moncur off the bench prove pivotal in the final ten minutes?
  • 21:06pm
     
    81 McGeehan tries his luck from 30 yards but he fires high and wide
  • 21:07pm
     
    GOAL!
    George Moncur
  • 21:09pm
     
    After some sustained pressure, Adeboeyjo lays the ball off to Moncur who curls in from 15 yards
  • 21:10pm
     
    84 Moncur tries to return the favour but Victor Adeboyejo's shot from the left edge of the box takes a deflection and is gathered by Zeus De La Paz
  • 21:12pm
     
    Into the 87th minute here and Barnsley look likely to start their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with. a win
  • 21:16pm
     
    90 Moncur tries to add another from 20 yards after a mazy run but his low effort is not powerful enough and easily saved
  • 21:18pm
     
    90+2 A slice left-wing cross lands on top of the Barnsley goal after some mild panic from Jack Walton
  • 21:20pm
     
    90+5 Walton makes an outstanding save to deny Jonathan Benteke who looked certain to score with a header at the back post from a left wing cross
  • 21:20pm
     
    FULL-TIME: Oldham 1, Barnsley 2.

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