Barnsley were made to pay for a lacklustre performance by a spirited Exeter outfit who comfortably claimed all three points in South Yorkshire.

A Jay Stansfield brace saw off Michael Duff's in-form Reds side this afternoon.

It was a less than ideal start for Barnsley as Exeter took the lead inside the opening minute. Interplay between Sam Nombe and Stansfield allowed the latter to fire home into Brad Collins’ bottom right-hand corner.

After that frantic start to the affair, the game settled, with neither side creating many dangerous chances for the rest of the half. The next real opportunity fell to Reds skipper Mads Andersen, who found himself free in the box after a Nicky Cadden corner. The Dane connected with the delivery, but his headed effort sailed over the bar.

The visitors continued to look threatening with their direct approach, and Jake Caprice was presented with a chance through on goal after some neat interplay from the Grecians, but the full-back’s effort was side-footed wide of the post.

HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-1 Exeter City 

The second half began similarly to the first, as Stansfield doubled his tally for the afternoon shortly after the whistle blew. Nombe, once again was involved, squaring for the Grecians' striker who was tasked with a simple tap-in at the back stick in the 48^th minute.

Much like the first 45, the game returned to a settle state with neither side making the opposition’s 'keeper work. 

Once the Grecians doubled their lead, it was the Reds taking the initiative in the game in an attempt to salvage something from it, but the efforts conjured up were wasteful. 

Jack Aitchison had the chance to volley from inside the area but it flew a yard over the bar; Liam Kitching twice fancied his chances from the edge of the box but failed to hit the target. 

It was that kind of afternoon for the Reds, and could serve as a reality check after a quarter of the 22/23 season.

FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0-2 Exeter City

Collins, Williams (Edwards), Cundy, Andersen, Kitching, Cadden (Larkeche), Kane (Martin), Benson (Connell), Aitchison, Norwood (Phillips), Cole.

Unused: Walton, Tedic.