BARNSLEY 4 (Dickinson 25; Neumann 27, 40; Fearnehough 62)
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (Lacey 74)
TOTESPORT LEAGUE

IT was all too easy for the Reds as they brushed aside Sheffield Wednesday at Oakwell in the opening reserve team game of the new season.

Barnsley mean business in the ToteSport league this season as coach Nick Daws was able to field a very strong side against the Owls.

With preparations for this weekend's trip to Ashton Gate well underway, it meant a run out for David Preece, Luke Potter, Jacob Butterfield, Iain Hume, Jeronimo Neumann, Liam Dickinson and Martin Devaney as Barnsley showed they intend to take second string football seriously this season. It's not often that so many first team players turn out for the reserves and is a statement of intent that the Reds' second string matches will be used to keep all the squad fit and firing this season.

There were also places for promising youngsters Ben Carlisle, John Stones, Conor Branson and Danny Fearnehough as Barnsley kicked off the season with a South Yorkshire derby against a youthful Sheffield Wednesday.

Barnsley were on the front foot with Neumann pulling the strings as early as the fifth minute when the Argentine split the Owls defence wide open to send Fearnehough away and in the clear but the youngster shot straight at Arron Jameson with the goal gaping.

The Reds could have snatched the lead on 22 minutes when Branson rose highest to meet Devaney's free kick but nodded the ball back across the face of goal from a tight angle. Neumann then turned well on 25 minutes but saw his well-struck shot cannon off a defender and through to Jameson.

The home side got the goal they deserved seconds later when Dickinson broke onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and rifled a fine low drive past Jameson and into the bottom corner. It was a great finish by the big striker.

Dickinson showed the other side of his game just two minutes later as he battled past his marker to nod a long ball down and into the path of Neumann, who hammered a shot into the roof of the net before Jameson could move.

Fearnehough picked up the first caution of the game on 35 minutes after pulling back Patrick Lacey before the Reds grabbed a third goal four minutes later. It came from the lightening feet of Dickinson who raced away down the right flank and left the Sheffield Wednesday defence in his wake before squaring the ball to give Neumann a simple tap in.

It was almost four on 44 minutes as Hume's pass gave Butterfield the chance to strike one from 25 yards and the midfielder beat Jameson but saw his effort cannon away off the upright. Seconds later Devaney flashed one wide of the post after finding a yard of space in the area.

Dickinson's evening was cut short at half time as the striker limped out of the action with an ankle knock picked up early in the first period. Steven Bennett replaced Dickinson as the focal point of what had been a fluid and exciting Reds attack.

Barnsley clinically made Sheffield Wednesday pay again on 62 minutes when the Owls made a complete mess of clearing Hume's fine cross from the right hand side. The ball dropped invitingly to Fearnehough, who brilliantly volleyed it past Jameson and into the bottom corner.

It was almost five seconds later as Carlisle's cross fell to Alastair Taylor at the back post and the winger brought an outstanding save from Jameson. It was all one way traffic and the Owls had Jameson to thank again on 68 minutes as he turned away Hume's curler.

The post saved Wednesday a real hammering again on 73 minutes as Barnsley cut through the Owls brilliantly again with Hume playing in Bennett but the youngster saw his shot cannon off the upright.

Wednesday pulled one back with their first shot at goal in the game seconds later. It was quick thinking by Patrick Lacey on the edge of the area as the striker reacted quickest when his initial shot had hit Potter and the youngster curled a fine effort past Preece.

Reuben Noble-Lazarus was inches away from a sensational fifth on 80 minutes as he cut in from the left before flashing a shot a foot or so wide of the far post.

Preece finally had some dirt on his gloves on 82 minutes as he did well to parry away Brandon Cardwell's well-struck effort. Hume could have made it five moments later as he raced onto Butterfield's great pass and through on goal but shot wide under pressure at the final moment.

BARNSLEY: Preece, Stones, Carlisle, Butterfield, Branson, Potter, Hume, Fearnehough, Dickinson (Bennett 45), Neumann (Noble-Lazarus 68), Devaney (Taylor 58).
Subs: Boulding, Yun, Gorman, Martin.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Jameson, Barnett, Haywood, Boden, Eckhardt, Magill (Poulton 53), Cottingham, Palmer, Oliver (Cardwell 45), Lacey, Modest.
Subs: Pinhorn, Cuff, Nyoni, Mir, Kendal.

Referee
Mr D Ford
Assistant Referees
Mr A McIntyre and Mr SJ Meredith
Fourth Official
Mr M Kiecz

Match Report By Rob Knowles at Oakwell.