Barnsley were given a jolt, four days before the start of the new season as a strong side were dismantled by Conference Premier League new boys Halifax Town at the Shay this evening.
The Reds side including first team players Ben Alnwick, Bobby Hassell, Jim McNulty, Jim O’Brien, Tomasz Cywka, Dale Jennings and Reuben Noble-Lazarus were outplayed by a side three divisions below them.
Halifax took the lead three minutes before the break when Scott McManus was allowed to run unchallenged and he drilled a low cross into the box where Lee Gregory was waiting to turn home.
Barnsley started the second half much the brighter side but against the run of play the Shaymen doubled their lead as Dan Gardner rifled an effort from 25 yards past sub keeper Christian Dibble.
Six minutes later it was 3-0 and game over when Gardner split The Reds defence with a pass that Alex Johnson latched onto and squared for Gregory to grab his second.
Barnsley: Alnwick (Dibble, 45) Patterson, Hassell (Knight, 74) McNulty (Boland, 70) Jones, O'Brien, Cywka (Joyce, 70) Clark, Jennings (Sousa, 45) Oates, Noble-Lazarus (Knight, 70) Subs not used: Abbott, Shillito, Barton, Scott.