[BFC SITE] REPORT: ALFRETON TOWN 1-3 BARNSLEY

The Reds kicked off their pre-season friendly schedule with victory away at Alfreton Town on Saturday afternoon.

Head Coach, Darrell Clarke named a strong lineup for this opening clash of the summer. There was a first start in goal for Jackson Smith while Reds fans in attendance got their first glimpse of Marc Roberts at the heart of defence following his return to the club.

Given the captain's armband, Luca Connell was busy and industrious in the opening stages, working well with Josh Earl and Corey O'Keeffe as Barnsley focused their attacking movements down the left-hand side. It was O'Keeffe who forced the first save as he bamboozled his defender having worked a one-two with Connell on the edge of the box but his eventual shot was claimed by the home 'keeper.

It was the hosts who went ahead in the 14th minute. After some squabbling in midfield, with neither side able to grab possession, the ball ricocheted wide right and a cross to the far post was bundled home by Ahmed Salam.

The Reds reacted well with Adam Phillips sending a strike wide of goal before Connell's exquisite turn allowed Jon Russell to pierce the Alfreton backline, sending Sam Cosgrove one-on-one with Town goalkeeper Jake Askew. The Barnsley number 9 looked to side-step the stopper and went down under his outstretched arms. It looked like a penalty but the referee - much to Clarke's displeasure in the away dugout - waved away the Reds' appeals.



However, the contest was levelled soon after when Earl met Connell's inch-perfect inswinging corner kick to powerfully head the ball into the far corner of the net from six yards. It was nearly 2-1 Barnsley a couple of minutes later and almost a second goal for Earl, as he stretched to meet O'Keeffe's inviting free-kick but the ball was scrambled off the line.

HALF-TIME: Alfreton Town 1-1 Barnsley

Just five minutes into the second half, Max Watters was thwarted by Askew as he was played through on goal. The striker's shot was too close to the goalie who turned it behind. But only two minutes later, Watters made no mistake. A surging run down the right flank from Barry Cotter had the home side back-pedalling and his cut-back was smashed home by the frontman to hand Barnsley the lead.



On the hour-mark, wholesale changes took place for the Reds. An entirely new 11 made their entry into the contest, mainly consisting of youngsters.

The fresh lineup maintained the Reds' dominance in the fixture, with Vimal Yoganathan and Jean Claude Makiessi impressing in midfield. At the back, a Trialist drove into midfield and picked out the run of Josiah Dyer who finished with real aplomb to extend Barnsley's advantage in the game, tucking home from 12 yards, one-on-one with the goalkeeper.



The hosts did get the ball into the back of the Reds' net again in stoppage time but the assistant referee quickly threw up his flag for offside.

It had proved an ideal first workout of pre-season for Clarke and his squad, with a competitive clash ending in victory whilst 22 players gained valuable minutes with no injuries reported.

FULL-TIME: Alfreton Town 1-3 Barnsley

Starting XI: Smith, Cotter, de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl, O'Keeffe, Russell, Phillips, Connell, Watters, Cosgrove.

Second XI: Flavell, Nejman, Trialist, James, Hickingbottom, Pickard, Makiessi, Yoganathan, Trialist, Chapman, Dyer.

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