Barnsley fell to defeat on the road against Charlton Athletic this afternoon.

An Alfie May double, scored either side of an Adam Phillips penalty ended the Reds' winning run away from Oakwell.

In what were bright, sunny conditions at the Valley, Neill Collins' side started well in this one. With just a few minutes played a Luca Connell ball over the top of the Addicks' defence had John McAtee scampering clear but his attempted finish over the onrushing Harry Isted landed a foot over the crossbar.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Devante Cole appeared to have been brought down eight yards from goal as he looked to get a shot off but referee, Ben Speedie deemed the tackle from Michael Hector a fair one much to the disbelief of the Barnsley players.

The official did award Charlton a free-kick just outside the box on 20 minutes as Jamie McCart tripped his man. Up stepped May who fired home the set-piece with power leaving Liam Roberts rooted to the spot. It was harsh on the Reds but they responded well.

Just seven minutes later Phillips' cross from the left was handled inside the box by Kayne Ramsay and this time, Mr Speedie did award Barnsley a spot kick. Phillips made no mistake from 12 yards in powering home the penalty into the bottom corner beyond the reach of former Reds loanee Isted.

It ought to have been 2-1 to the visitors just five minutes after the leveller but a stretching Cole couldn't quite get the requisite connection to convert Phillips' inch-perfect cross from inside the six-yard box.

Just 90 seconds later and Josh Earl spun before shooting against the crossbar from 14 yards out as the Reds maintained the incessant pressure.

However, five minutes before the break, Barnsley fell behind for a second time. A well-worked move down the Charlton left flank opened up a bit of space for the impressive May on the edge of the box who made room to his right before curling home the hosts' second of the afternoon, giving them the advantage going into the interval.

HALF-TIME: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Barnsley

It wasn't as easy for Collins' team to create chances in the second half and the home side were now the bigger threat in this game, mainly on the counter-attack. Indeed, Daniel Kanu ought to have doubled the Addicks' advantage when he had a free header 10 yards from goal; he sent it behind, thankfully for the Reds.

Charlton then had their turn at hitting the woodwork as May looked odds on to bag himself a hat-trick. The impish forward's delicate effort came back off the bar and substitute Chuks Aneke could only head the rebound over from close-range.

There was another chance for Cole on 72 minutes as Phillips' delicious delivery from the right was begging to be put away but the striker's header was too high. 

Soon after that opportunity, McAtee looked to have been pulled down inside the box as he raced onto Jordan Williams' incisive through-ball but the referee waved the protests away before waving a yellow card in the striker's face after he showed his frustration at the decision.

Barnsley thought they had equalised in the first minute of eight added on at the end of the match as substitute Fábio Jaló rifled home a terrific strike from an acute angle but the young forward was flagged offside.

Whilst the Reds tried to clear their lines deep into time added on, Roberts' touch let him down and he ended up bringing down Tyreece Campbell inside the penalty area. Up stepped Aneke but his effort towards the left of Roberts was gloved away by the Barnsley stopper to ensure the score remained at 2-1.

The hosts managed to clear their lines a number of times in the final stages as Barnsley piled on the pressure. It wasn't to be for the Reds in the capital on Saturday afternoon. Just a second defeat on their travels in the league this season.

FULL-TIME: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Barnsley

Roberts, Williams, de Gevigney, McCart, Earl (O'Keeffe), Cadden, Russell (Cosgrove), Connell, Phillips, McAtee, Cole (Jaló).

Unused: Killip, Cotter, Grant, Kane.