A FIRST half masterclass from the Reds saw them extend their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win against Gillingham at Oakwell - despite a spirited effort from the away side.
Having struggled to get into the game last time out against Scunthorpe, head coach Daniel Stendel stressed the importance of starting strongly and his players did exactly that and came out of the blocks quickly.
Slick passing from midfielders Alex Mowatt and George Moncur was the key in unlocking Gillingham's defence early on for the Reds. Mamadou Thiam also caused problems for Steve Lovell's side, whose own midfield had no answer to Barnsley's intricate passes which had the 11,434 crowd cheering with delight.
After good work from Moncur, it was in-form Kieffer Moore who opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a great strike from 25 yards out.
The striker, who was again playing as the lone front man in an unchanged starting 11, smashed the ball into the bottom corner which easily beat Gillingham goalkeeper Tomas Holy.
The goal sparked a spell of one-way traffic which resulted in the Reds almost doubling their lead just minutes later.
After Brad Potts freed Thiam, the winger burst into open space and his precise cross found an unmarked Moncur at the back post, but the playmaker didn't connect with the volley and Holy had no trouble saving the effort.
With Gillingham - who were without a win in three - struggling to cope with the Reds' tempo, quick-thinking from Mowatt played in Dani Pinillos who was bundled over in the box.
Referee John Busby had no hesitation in awarding the home side a penalty, which was coolly converted by Moore for his and the Reds' deserved second of the half.
After the interval, man-of-the-match Moore went close twice to bagging his second hat-trick of the season but it was Josh Parker who prodded home from close range on the hour mark to get the visitors back into the game.
The goal spurred Gillingham into life but an equaliser wasn't to be - despite good chances for Max Ehmer and Callum Reilly - as the Reds held out in a nervy last ten minutes for the three points.
