Abbott, Ngoma and Sousa on target...
A minute before the end of normal time saw Chadderton deny the visitors a consolation goal with a neat save to his right, preserving Barnsley’s deserved clean sheet.
After the break, chances dried up for the Reds but they kept at it with some neat play on the deck. The game was well and truly wrapped up on 68 minutes when Erico Sousa pounced on a lucky ricochet, but there was nothing fortunate about his finish – lashing into the roof of the net on the volley from 22 yards.
Chadderton was still to be tested as the clock ticked towards half-time, with Wigan scooping over a long-range shot.
Oates was in the thick of it again on the half-hour mark and his persistence paid off as he teed up Ngoma for a simple finish from six yards.
Twelve minutes later the visitors responded by blasting a free-kick at the wall before Oates sent a neat volley just over the crossbar at the other end.
Ten minutes in saw George Maris upended by the onrushing goalkeeper after the Reds forward caught out the Wigan defence. The skipper Abbott stepped up to send the ‘keeper the wrong way with a powerful penalty.
A Brad Abbott penalty along with strikes from Kenna Ngoma and Erico Sousa made it three goals and three points for the young Reds.
Barnsley’s Under 18s cruised to a 3-0 victory over Wigan at Oakwell’s Academy Complex after a solid performance on a gorgeous September afternoon.
Wigan Athletic Under 18s 0
Barnsley Under 18s 3
Reds: Chadderton, Alderson, Smith, Moore, Freeman, Shillito, Ngoma, Abbott, Oates (Alexander-Salmon 40), Maris, Sousa.
