A Reds line-up containing at least four players who are likely to start the season opener against Crawley in four weeks time (provided they are not sold before then) started the encounter in West Yorkshire against one of last season's Conference play-off semi-finalists.
Both goals came in the last five minutes of the first half through Matty Pearson and then Boden.
Reds boss Danny Wilson made seven changes at the break, taking off first teamers Luke Steele, Martin Cranie, Tom Kennedy, new signing Connor Hourihane plus trialist, former Rotherham United striker Will Hoskins.
650 Barnsley fans made the short trip to the Shay in a match refereed by Geoff Eltringham who also officiated Barnsley's first league game of last season- the 4-0 defeat to Wigan.
Reds: Steele (Davies 46), Cowgill (M'voto 46), Cranie (McHale), Kennedy (Smith 46), McKnight (Nyatanga 46), Abbott, Hourihane (Boakye-Yiadom 70), Digby (Jennings 46), Rose (O'Grady 46), Noble-Lazarus (Bree 46), Hoskins (McKnight 75).
Unused: Oates, Maris.