Adam Lund and Omari Patrick on target as the Reds run out deserved winners in this afternoon's Yorkshire derby.
Barnsley Under 23s produced a clinical performance to brush aside Leeds United Under 23s 2-0 at Oakwell.
The Reds were slow to get into their stride, but took the lead on 16 minutes as Adam Lund volleyed home from a corner.
Alex Purver’s driven strike forced a flying save out of Jack Walton as Leeds looked for a leveller, but the Reds doubled their lead just before the break when Omari Patrick slotted home.
Jared Bird came closest to extending the lead in the second half, but Paul Harsley's side shut out any further Whites attacks for a deserved three points.
Kayden Jackson’s driven centre was deflected over his own crossbar by Mike Taylor eight minutes in, with that chance quickly followed by Omari Patrick’s driven strike, bringing a diving save out of Will Huffer.
The resulting corner was headed jut over by Adam Lund, with Julio Rodriguez nodding a Jared Bird free kick from the left flank just wide.
Bird’s incisive through ball slipped in Patrick, who skinned Billy Whitehouse but fired just wide, before the Reds took the lead just after the quarter hour mark.
A corner from the left looped up into the air and as it dropped out of the sky, Adam Lund was on hand to volley past Will Huffer, who was rooted to the spot.
Jack Walton’s first action of the game when he had to gather Clark Oduor’s powerful effort, while Ryan Hedges nodded James Carvell’s cross wide just wide and then put the ball on the roof of the net with a cross-come-shot.
Lund came close to a second when he swivelled smartly inside the area, firing just wide, before Leeds midfielder Alex Purver let fly from the edge of the area, bringing a flying save out of Walton.
HALF TIME: Barnsley 2-0 Leeds United.
Patrick controlled the ball well but could not fire on target just before the hour, while a surging Josh Kay run culminated with Patrick heading just wide of the mark from Louis Wardle’s cross.
Julio Rodriguez climbed highest to bring a low save out of Huffer, before Wardle let fly from 30 yards, with Huffer again saving.
Kayden Jackson blasted over after a clever run, while Bird’s 25-yard free kick drifted just wide of Huffer’s near post. Leeds struggled to break through a well-regimented Reds defence, as Barnsley held on for victory and the clean sheet.
Reds: Walton (GK), Janko, Rodriguez, Lund, Wardle, Carvell, Kay, Bird (c) (Wolfe, 90’ ), Hedges, Patrick (Rowe, 85’ ), K. Jackson.
Subs: Charles, Proctor, Dolan.
Leeds United: Huffer (GK), Whitehouse, Taylor, Vann, Pearce, Nicell (Wollerton, 52’ ), Purver (c), Grimes, Antonsson, Oduor (Knight, 52’ ), Stokes.
Subs: Male, Haidara.
