Barnsley ended their preparations for the new season with a very promising victory over Championship outfit Huddersfield Town.
This derby played on Yorkshire Day saw The Reds overcome the Terriers thanks to goals from Mason Holgate, whose chances of staying at Oakwell seem to be increasing by the day, and Sam Winnall, and it means Barnsley have lost just one of their six friendlies this summer.
Head Coach Lee Johnson selected arguably his strongest side in preparation for the big kick-off in seven days time and the Oakwell crowd were treated to the terrific sight of Conor Hourihane on the substitutes bench.
Last season’s top scorer was expected to miss the start of the season after suffering medial knee ligament damage at the start of pre-season and this was his first taste of summer action.
The Irishman came on for the final 11 minutes but will surely not be deemed fit enough to start at Chesterfield with such a meagre amount of football under his belt.
It was The Reds who fell behind at Oakwell. On 20 minutes, Nahki Wells rather worryingly turned Marc Roberts not once but twice before firing past Adam Davies.
The Reds drew level 13 minutes later as Sam Winnall got his first goal of the summer. Kyle Dempsey who turned down a £300,000 move to Oakwell from Carlisle this summer to join Huddersfield momentarily forgot which club he had signed for as he hit a massively under hit backpass which Winnall pounced on to smash into the top corner.
Two minutes after half time and Barnsley were in front. A lovely corner routine saw Josh Scowen’s set piece stepped over by Alfie Mawson for Holgate to turn home.
It was the 18 year old’s first start for Barnsley in pre-season with Johnson claiming after the game his future was very much up in the air after completing his trial at Manchester United.
Barnsley Team:
Adam Davies
Mason Holgate
Marc Roberts
Alfie Mawson
Lewin Nyatanga
George Smith
Ben Pearson
Dan Crowley
Josh Scowen
Marley Watkins
Sam Winnall
Substitutions:
Simeon Jackson (for Watkins 56)
Conor Wilkinson (for Winnall 56)
Paul Digby (for Crowley 59)
James Bree (for Holgate 79)
Conor Hourihane (for Scowen 79)
Unused Substitutes:
Christian Dibble, George Maris, Mike Phenix.
Barnsley’s full Pre-Season 2015 Results:
Stalybridge Celtic 0-1 Barnsley
Chalmers og
Guiseley 0-0 Barnsley
Barnsley 4-3 Mansfield
Hassell
Ball
Rothwell
Nardiello
Kilmarnock 0-1 Barnsley
Wilkinson
Barnsley 0-4 Middlesbrough
Barnsley 2-1 Huddersfield
Winnall
Holgate