Barnsley won their first pre-season match 1-0 at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday thanks to a comical own goal.
After a good run down the left and cross from Josh Scowen, home defender Aaron Chalmers chested into his own net on the hour-mark. Star midfielder Conor Hourihane and goalkeeper Adam Davies missed the match through injury while new signing Callum Evans limped off injured 20 minutes after coming on.
Trialists Iain Vigurs, who forced a good save with a free-kick, and Germaine Ofori both played but transfer-listed duo Milan Lalkovic and James Bailey were not involved nor were Ross Turnbull and Mason Holgate who are close to leaving the club.
Barnsley had plenty of early chances to take the lead against their Conference North hosts as front three Sam Winnall, Conor Wilkinson and Marley Watkins looked dangerous and linked up well. Lively striker Winnall had a shot cleared off the line after beating goalkeeper Tony McMillan to the ball then fired wide when clean though and also saw a shot tipped round the right post by McMillan.Marc Roberts also missed a good chance when he headed Scowen's fine cross over the bar from ten yards out.
Stalybridge could have taken the lead against the run of play when Stephen Tames went clean through but Christian Dibble made a good save with his right knee. Then Stalybridge had a goals ruled out for a foul and offside either side of the break.
The Reds eventually took the lead through the freak goal on the hour then made a series of substitutions to introduce some of their younger players. Many of the replacements impressed, especially George Maris who displayed some excellent touches and curled a shot just wide.
Dibble; Bree (Williams HT), Mawson (Cowgill, 62mins), Roberts (Nyatanga HT), Smith (Templeton, 62); Digby (Abbott, 62), Vigurs (Drennan, 62), Scowen (Evans, 62 (Gooda 82)), Wilkinson (Maris HT); Winnall (Brown, 62), Watkins (Ofori, 62)
