YORK CITY 0
BARNSLEY 2 (Gray 37, 70)

TWO fine goals by Andy Gray were enough to settle tonight's pre-season clash with York City but it was a performance of determination, desire and spark from the Reds that will have pleased boss Mark Robins the most.

After a summer of despair and despondency watching England limp out of the World Cup with a whimper, it's great to have real football back at a muggy and overcast Bootham Crescent as Mark Robins' new look side lined up against York City in their opening pre-season encounter. There was a great following from the Oakwell faithful in the shadow of York Minster and the Barnsley supporters were given an early look at new boys Jay McEveley, Jason Shackell, Jim O'Brien and Goran Lovre with fellow summer recruit Liam Dickinson on the bench.

York's starting eleven included three anonymous trialists, which would make for a commentators nightmare for the Barnsley Player team, sat in the press box at Bootham Crescent.

The Reds were on the front foot from the opening exchanges and Martin Devaney's third minute corner should have provided the first goal as his low cross fizzed through the York City penalty area but bounced away to safety.

Devaney then gave York's trialist keeper a worrying moment on 13 minutes as he cut in from the left onto Lovre's pass and beat his man but sent a right-footed drive high over the top. City were determined to impress and put their mark on Stephen Foster midway through the first half with a thundering collision that left the defender bleeding heavily from a gash to the eyelid. Foster needed treatment - and probably a stitch or two.

With a man advantage, York finally threatened Luke Steele's goal as Michael Rankine cut past emergency defender Nathan Doyle before drilling one wide of the mark on 22 minutes. The Minstermen almost made the numbers count again seconds later as George Purcell skipped in from the left before bringing a very smart diving save from Steele.

Iain Hume waved in vain for a penalty on 27 minutes as he hit the deck over James Meredith's outstretched leg in the area. Referee Mark Haywood gave nothing. Steele had to be alert again on the half hour to grab Purcell's shot at the second attempt.

If anything the Reds were a little too keen to impress in their first pre-season outing of the summer and some of their play was a little rushed and careless at times.

Barnsley grabbed the opening goal on 37 minutes with a strike of real quality from Gray as the hitman turned brilliantly onto Foster's ball 16 yards out and planted an unstoppable drive right into the top corner.

Purcell's neatly worked but ultimately wasted free signalled that York were still in the game but his wild drive from 25 yards flew well over the top. Steele was again called to make a decent save in stoppage time as he clawed away Rankine's header from Jonathan Smith's corner.

A tweak to the formation and suddenly there was more life and endeavour about the Reds after the break. Devaney raced 50 yards with the ball but just could not find the right pass to send Hume clear on 53 minutes before Gray twisted and turned to no avail in the area seconds later.

Gray was an inch away from a second goal on 56 minutes as quick incisive passing by Hume and Lovre sent Devaney away down the left channel but the winger's cross flew agonisingly in front of the onrushing Reds striker.

Devaney again had York chasing shadows on 60 minutes as he broke from deep and through a couple of clumsy challenges only for his run to be halted by Djoumin Sangare. Hume took on the loose ball quickly but his curler flew high over the bar.

Richard Brodie showed a glimpse of his talent on 63 minutes as the in-demand York striker did well to tee up Neil Barrett but his wayward drive was never going to trouble Steele. Brodie again twisted his way past Doyle and Foster moments later but Steele was quickly out to smother the danger.

Steele again had to be alert on 65 minutes to turn Parslow's looping header around the post as York came on strong. Bobby Hassell then showed he had lost none of his sharpness over the summer with a fine goal-saving challenge to deny Barrett.

Devaney again raced at York City on 68 minutes and the Minstermen really would have been down to ten men in a competitive game as the flying Reds winger was hacked as he burst clean through on goal.

Again it took a moment of real quality two minutes later to separate the two sides and - once again - it came from Gray. This time Hume was the provider with an outstanding cross from the right and Gray met the ball purposefully to plant a wonderful header in off the post.

Devaney almost got the goal his outstanding second half display deserved on 82 minutes as he did wonderfully well to take on Dickinson's pass but drove the ball straight at the York City keeper although it was a very, very good save in the end.

YORK CITY: Trialist A, Meredith, Smith, Parslow, Lawless, Purcell, Carruthers, Sangare, Rankine, Trialist B, Trialist C.
Subs: Gash, Barrett, Brodie, Mackin, Lisles, McWilliams, Hopcutt, Andrew, Richardson, Trialist D, Trialist E.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Hassell, McEveley, Shackell, Doyle, Foster, Hume (Adam 75), O'Brien, Lovre, Devaney, Gray (Dickinson 75).
Subs: Preece, Hammill, Butterfield, Potter, Noble-Lazarus, Branson, Fearnehough, Taylor, Bennett, Boulding.

Referee: Mark Haywood
Assistant Referee: Ricky Wootton
Assistant Referee: Duncan Street
Fourth Official: Chris Woodall

Attendance - 1393
Away Attendance - 595