Paul Harsley's side blast four goals past Birmingham in the Professional Development League..
A first half brace from Kayden Jackson; an Adam Jackson close-range finish and a superbly-crafted George Moncur goal saw the Reds run out 4-0 winners on the Oakwell training pitch this afternoon. In a game played in ice-cold conditions, the Reds were too hot for their opponents from the second city.There was just 12 minutes on the clock when returning striker Kayden Jackson put the Reds ahead. Louis Wardle's ball over the top was flicked on by the head of Ryan Hedges and as the Birmingham defenders hesitated, Kayden sprinted through and slotted home the ball low to the keepers right.
Just a few minutes later and Hedges was denied by the visiting 'keeper after working some space and shooting low from just inside the box.
It was all Barnsley for much of the game and with 30 minutes played, Omari Patrick was denied twice in quick succession by the Birmingham 'keeper, the second time in particular was a rasping drive that was well turned over the crossbar.
Just prior to the break came a couple of defining moments. First, the Birmingham right winger flashed a fierce drive towards the top corner which was pushed onto the bar by the fingertips of Nick Townsend, with the follow-up shot cleared off the line by Adam Jackson.
And from the resulting corner the Reds countered in stunning fashion. James Carvell's chip over the visitors defence was taken in his stride by Kayden whose blistering pace saw him one-on-one with the advancing 'keeper before powering home the finish for 2-0.
HALF TIME: Reds 2-0 Birmingham
The Reds remained on the front foot in the second 45 with Hedges again showing his class. He brought down a ball from Moncur with superb technique, swivelled on the spot and sent a left-footed effort towards the top corner only to be denied by the fingertips of the Blues goalkeeper.
Under 18s captain Adam Lund was next to go close, his low effort from a Moncur cross hitting the post.
The third goal arrived in the 71st minute when Hedges' in-swinging free-kick from the right was turned home from close-range by Adam Jackson.
10 minutes later and the Reds rounded off the performance in style when Moncur scored the goal of the game. Some fantastic one-touch football in midfield eventually saw Romal Palmer slip in Hedges out wide on the right, he beat his man before pulling the ball back around 16 yards from goal and Moncur met it first time with a terrific curling effort into the far left corner.
FULL TIME: Reds 4-0 Birmingham
Reds XI: Townsend (GK); Wardle, Lund, A.Jackson, Dolan; Carvell (Charles '71), Palmer (Wolfe '82), Moncur, Hedges; Patrick, K.Jackson.
Subs not used: Walton (GK), Proctor, Saeed.
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