Barnsley U23s edged a seven-goal thriller with Hemsworth Miners Welfare on Friday evening.
The young Reds ran out 4-3 winners in an entertaining pre-season friendly at Fitzwilliam Stadium, thanks to goals from Jordan Barnett, Sam Fielding, Louis Walsh and Trialist.
Hemsworth struck through Andy Higgins’ first half header, and goals after the interval from Jack Sidall and Dez Parker.
The hosts almost bagged an equaliser in a frantic end to the game, but Brad Dockerty was denied by a stunning reflex save from Trialist in the Barnsley net to preserve the visitors’ slender advantage.
After an even opening exchange, it was the Reds who grew into the game and were rewarded for their fine play with a well-worked goal. Trialist held the ball up well before playing a fine pass to the on-rushing Barnett, who casually lifted his shot over the diving Paul Diamond after 20 minutes.
One soon became two for Martin Devaney’s young side as Fielding rose highest to thunder home Barnett’s corner and double the visitors’ lead.
But Hemsworth hit back through a set piece of their own as Riley connected well to divert a corner beyond Trialist to halve the deficit.
Barnsley continued to look dangerous and the energetic Walsh burst clear of his marker before firing a low drive into the bottom corner, via the upright, to re-establish the two-goal lead with four minutes of the first half remaining.
It was a similar story after the interval, with the Reds continuously probing and looking to work an opening.
A fourth goal would soon arrive as Walsh played an inch perfect pass for Trialist, who rounded Diamond and calmly converted into an empty net nine minutes after the restart.
There were chances aplenty to further increase the lead, but Trialist was unable to add to his tally, while Wardle’s long-range effort deflected wide.
The Wells soon found a foot-hold back in the game as Parker brilliantly slotted home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to reduce the arrears.
Barnsley were again guilty of missing chances and were punished once more as the hosts broke from a Reds corner and scored their third. Dockerty was brilliantly denied by Trialist, but Ripley was on hand to convert into an open goal to make it 4-3 with eight minutes remaining.
Trialist came close to sealing victory for Devaney’s side, but his header from Rangel’s free-kick bounced just wide of the far post.
There was time for one last chance for Hemsworth as they sprung forward on the counter-attack, but Dockerty was once again denied by Trialist in the Barnsley goal as he produced a marvellous point-blank save to ensure victory for the Reds.
HEMSWORTH XI: Diamond, Trialist, J. Ripley, Jones, Higgins, Holt, Collier, Wilson, S. Ripley, Sidall, Dockerty
Subs: Leach, Viggans, Parker, Beaumont, Mumbanya, Trialist, Rashid
REDS XI: Trialist, Wardle (Gagen, 67), Fielding (Trialist, 45), Trialist (Trialist, 45), Simpson (Trialist, 45), Chisholm (Trialist, 45), Otim (Rangel, 67), Barnett (Willard, 67), Walsh, Trialist (Trialist, 45), Trialist
Not used: Kendrick
