Reds made to work hard for precious three points against battling Trotters side.
Barnsley Under 23s returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers Under 23s.
Jacob Brown opened the scoring for the Reds, prodding home from close range and Elliot Lee doubled the lead with an excellent finish across the goalkeeper.
Alex Samizadeh pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time for Bolton with a close range finish but the Reds increased the pressure on the Bolton goal, but failed to increase their tally.
Jack Walton made a string of excellent saves while Jared Bird went close to increasing Barnsley's tally, but the Reds secured their third win in four matches with victory.
The first half was dominated entirely by the Reds with Jacob Brown combining nicely with the returning Stefan Payne in attack.
Brown struck the crossbar inside the opening 10 minutes, heading against the woodwork with a looping header from midway inside the area but he did not have to wait too much longer to open the scoring.
He took a pass well from Payne inside the area before stabbing into the bottom corner past the desperate dive of Will Jaaskelainen.
Payne, who was making his first Reds appearance following an injury sustained earlier in the season, almost doubled the lead moments later, blasting into the area and firing across Jaaskelainen, with the stopper able to tip his effort away from danger.
George Newell came close to levelling for the Trotters with an acrobatic overhead kick from just inside the area, but Jack Walton gathered his effort well before launching a counter attack.
From his kick, Elliot Lee danced inside his markers and fired an unstoppable effort across the goalkeeper to give the Reds a commanding lead.
Omari Patrick was next to try his luck with a bending cross that was parried by Jaaskelainen, while Payne had another powerful effort turned away from a tight angle.
Barnsley struck the woodwork for the second time in the match when Lee again lashed against the underside of the crossbar from an angle, with Payne again going close soon after.
The Reds were indebted to Walton for keeping the Reds in the contest moments later as he denied Newell's glancing header from point blank range but he could not keep his clean sheet much longer.
Alex Samizadeh pulled a goal back for Bolton just before the interval after a hopeful punt into the area dropped to his feet, and he poked past Walton from six yards.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Payne was replaced at the break by Romal Palmer for Paul Harsley's side, but it was the visitors who appeared the more attacking after the break.
Newell prodded another effort at Walton, who stood up to the task well, while Palmer received a caution for bringing down Bolton's Sam Lavelle and he was quickly followed into the book by Josh Kay.
Bolton's Callum Spooner was cautioned for a late challenge on Lee while Palmer was denied a third Barnsley goal by a last ditch challenge after firing Louis Wardle's effort on goal.
Walton was alert to prevent Samizadeh equalising with 20 minutes to play and then surpassed himself to acrobatically prevent Newell twice in a matter of seconds following a dangerous free kick 12 minutes from time.
An excellent counter from Barnsley could have put the result beyond all doubt six minutes from time as Palmer and Lee exchanged passes, only for the latter to be denied by the feet of Jaaskelainen.
Jared Bird charged forward from midfield before letting fly from the edge of the area, with a fine fingertip save preventing the captain from increasing his side's lead.
Lee had the final chance for either side with a vicious free kick that was drilled straight at the visiting goalkeeper and the Reds held firm despite some late Bolton pressure to secure three points.
Reds: Walton (GK), Wardle, Rodriguez, Proctor, Dolan, Patrick (Carvell, 62' ), Kay(Rosenthal, 62' ),Bird, Lee, Brown, Payne(Palmer, 46' ).
Subs: Greatorex (GK), Smith.
