The Reds leave it late to book a place in the second round of the competition.
Josh Benson's injury time strike was enough to settle a competitive cup tie here in the North East.
Right back at the start, it was almost a disastrous beginning for the Reds on Teesside, when Duncan Watmore raced through on goal in the 2nd minute but the livewire was denied by the legs of the onrushing Jack Walton.
Aiden Marsh almost found an opener for Michael Duff’s side, after a ricocheted ball found the striker in the area, but Liam Roberts in the Boro goal was quick to smother any effort at his near post.
Callum Styles was played in on the left on 40 minutes and played a neat ball inside for Jack Aitchison. Some nice passing interplay allowed the Reds to work the ball into the area and allow the Scottish forward to fire a low effort goalwards, but it was not enough to worry Boro ‘keeper Roberts.
HALF-TIME: Middlesbrough 0-0 Barnsley
Marsh gave us the first chance of the second half on the hour-mark, after he was played in on the left courtesy of an inch-perfect ball from Luca Connell. The former then drove inside the area and attempted to sneak a driven effort past Roberts at his near post, but the ball nestled in the side-netting.
Walton denied Dael Fry with ten minutes to play, after the centre-half was found at the back stick by a dangerous cross, but the Reds' ‘keeper was equal to it.
There were numerous changes from both sides that disrupted the play somewhat, including the Reds' introduction of Fabio Jalo; the 16-year-old thus becoming the sixth youngest debutant for the club.
A fellow sub grabbed the headlines on this occasion though. Benson looked lively from the off and it was his strike from the edge of the box that Roberts could only parry, and straight back out to Benson who'd continued his run to bury the second attempt and send the travelling Red army into raptures.
FULL-TIME: Middlesbrough 0-1 Barnsley
Walton (GK), Styles (Hondermarck), Andersen ©, Marsh (Leya Iseka), McCarthy(Benson), Oduor, Cundy, Helliwell, Aitchson (Thomas), Cole (Jalo), Connell.
Unused: Collins (GK), Kitching, Moon, Ackroyd.
