BARNSLEY 4 (Mostto 51, Meynell 73, Ricketts 85, Mattis 90)
BRADFORD CITY 2 (Medley 64, Osborne 68)

BARNSLEY winger Rohan Ricketts inspired the Reds to victory after six-goal thriller at Oakwell.

For the first time in a long while, the Reds were able to field a strong reserve team packed with first team experience as Dwayne Mattis, Sam Togwell, Miguel Mostto, Rohan Ricketts and Paul Reid were all given a run out. New signing Jamal Campbell-Ryce was also handed his first game in a Barnsley shirt since his deadline beating move from Southend United.

In contrast, City fielded a very young side without virtually any first team experience following last night's JP Trophy defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

Barnsley dominated the opening exchanges with Campbell-Ryce and Jacob Butterfield impressive but the Reds struggled to find a way through the Bantams although Campbell-Ryce almost marked his first appearance with a goal on nine minutes as he flashed a volley a foot or so wide of Matt Convey's upright.

A minute later Luke Potter smashed the bar after he reacted quickest to Rickett's corner and managed to get in front of his marker. The youngster was unlucky as his first-time effort beat Convey but clipped the top of the crossbar.

Togwell then crossed well from the right on 12 minutes to give Mostto half a chance and the Peruvian beat his marker but could not get his header on target.

The best an overrun Bantams side could offer came on 13 minutes as Luke Medley was allowed time and space to run at the Reds defence but the striker's low shot was comfortable for Kyle Letheren.

At the other end Convey had to be alert on 26 minutes to claw Ricketts' curling free kick around the post after Campbell-Ryce had been upended on the edge of the area. Ricketts then brought another save from Convey four minutes later as he smashed Campbell-Ryce's corner goalward from the edge of the box.

Togwell and Butterfield could have broken the deadlock on 34 minutes as the pair scrapped for Ricketts' cross in the area but neither could apply a finish as the Bantams defence closed in.

Potter then got to the byline on 37 minutes and stood up a fine cross for Mostto but the diminutive Peruvian could not get his header on target with Convey rooted to the spot. Butterfield then let fly from the edge of the area on 40 minutes but his effort flew wide of Convey's far post.

Campbell-Ryce saw another chance go begging on 45 minutes as he cut in well from the left before firing high over as the City defence opened up in front of him.

Barnsley really should have been in front in stoppage time as Ricketts' pass sent Mostto clean through on goal but the Peruvian tried to break the back of the net and hammered his shot high over the top with only Convey to beat.

The Reds were on top again at the start of the second half with Ricketts' cross on 49 minutes almost catching the City defence napping but Campbell-Ryce just could not turn the ball into the net at the back post.

Campbell-Ryce then turned provider two minutes later as he raced to the byline to cross but this time Mostto was unable to turn his header goalward.

The goal finally came on 51 minutes after an outstanding move orchestrated by Campbell-Ryce. The winger's inventive run and interchange with Mattis caught out the City defence before he gave Mostto the chance to head home from six yards with a fine cross.

Mostto almost grabbed a second on 55 minutes as he cut in front of his marker to meet Togwell's low cross but his shot was too close to Convey.

Mattis then brought a comfortable save from Convey on 57 minutes as he let fly after the ball had dropped invitingly on the edge of the area. Convey had to be alert again on 59 minutes as Ricketts curled one in from the edge of the box after more patient build up play.

City grabbed a shock equaliser on 63 minutes after Letheren misjudged Luke Morgan's swinging cross from the left wing. The Reds keeper opted to stay on his line and could only watch as the ball found Medley at the back post, who coolly slotted it home.

Ricketts was a foot away from restoring Barnsley's lead on 66 minutes as he let fly from 30 yards and Convey could only watch as the ball drifted wide.

City were in front on 68 minutes and again Medley was involved. This time the big striker bundled his way to the byline before crossing for Leon Osborne to rifle home at the second attempt.

At the other end Togwell somehow managed to miss Potter's cross on 70 minutes as the youngster's ball evaded both the Reds midfielder and two defenders a foot or so away from the line. Butterfield then smashed the ball high over the bar a minute later after the City defence had struggled to clear Ricketts' cross.

Barnsley were level on 73 minutes as Rhys Meynell managed to break well into the area before showing great composure to slot the ball past Convey from eight yards.

Meynell almost provided a little bit of magic again on 81 minutes as he danced past a couple of challenges into the area but could not pick out Mostto with his final pass.

City then should have won it on 83 minutes as Medley's break found Osborne in space but the youngster shot wide with only Letheren to beat.

The winner finally came on 85 minutes and it came from the head of Ricketts, who lost his marker in the middle before planting Potter's cross into the back of the net from six yards.

The fourth came deep in stoppage time as Meynell flashed a cross over for Mattis to glance in from six yards.

BARNSLEY: Letheren, Meynell, Potter, Reid, Atkinson, Mattis, Togwell (Heslop 75), Butterfield, Mostto, Campbell-Ryce, Ricketts.
Subs: Jennings, Fedorenko, Smith, Free.

BRADFORD CITY: Convey, Griffiths (Sheridan 45), Bartle, Bowes, Smith, Morgan, Horne, Medley, Penford (Carson 83), Osborne.
Subs: Bleau, Dean, O'Hara.