Boro sparkle despite homecoming defeat at the hands of League One Barnsley
League One Barnsley were 2-0 victors in Boro’s long-awaited return home after a year’s exile in Bridlington, but Jono Greening’s depleted side played some terrific football and more than matched their distinguished visitors, both sides contributing to an excellent game.
Holidays or injury ruled out Lewis Maloney, Alex Wiles, Rio Allan, Harry Green and Alex Brown, but Jake Hull was back after missing the last three games with a calf injury, while Barnsley fielded a mixture of first team and Academy players.
The visitors made a dream start, scoring in the opening minute, when Noah Town won the ball, surged forward and passed to Leo Farrell, who clinically fired past Ryan Whitley.
Boro recovered from that early setback, with Luca Colville, Mo Fadera, Luke Hall and Dom Tear displaying nice touches.
Hull chipped forward to Fadera, who was tackled by Corey O’Keefe as he surged into the box, another Fadera run was stopped by a Kacper Lopata sliding tackle, the excellent Jack Waldron drilled a shot wide, keeper Rogan Ravenhill saved at the feet of Fadera, and Tear had a shot blocked by Lopata.
Barnsley’s star player Reyes Cleary teed up Charlie Lennon, but the hard-working Hall got back to clear, and Charlie Lennon fired straight at Whitley.
Boro created further chances, a Waldron cross was headed goalwards by Fadera, but Ravenhill did well to tip over, Fadera fired inches wide, then a mazy Fadera dribble ended with him teeing up Hall, who scooped his shot over.
Colville flicked-on to Tear, whose shot forced a good diving save from Ravenhill, and Alex Purver fired narrowly over.
Just before the interval, the superb Cleary passed into the Boro area towards Jonathan Bland, but Purver slid in to hack clear.
Early in the second half a Purver corner was headed wide by Kieran Weledji, then Barnsley enjoyed a good spell, but Boro defended stoutly, with Waldron and Michael Duckworth getting in some strong tackles.
A Cleary corner curled past the back post, and Robson Woodcock had a shot blocked by Waldron, before they doubled their lead when Farrell passed into the path of Town, who fired into the bottom right corner.
Noah Saunders laid off to Town, who fired wide of the left-hand post, then Charlie Lennon burst forward and slotted home, but was foiled by an offside flag.
Both sides passed the ball around on the slick surface, and Barnsley created further chances, a Lennon shot was blocked by Weledji and keeper Whitley parried a Cleary strike.
There was a hold-up in play due to a medical emergency in the crowd, and the last 15 minutes contained some terrific football.
For Boro, a Hall corner was cleared to Purver, whose volley was blocked by Lopata, and Colville fed Hall, who fired into the arms of Ravenhill.
Late chances for the visitors saw Cleary twice crash shots narrowly wide, and a jinking run into the area by Amani Richards was halted by a Weledji tackle.
BORO - Whitley, Waldron, Duckworth (Stuttard 75), Hull (Trialist 46), Thornton (c), Purver, Hall, Weledji, Fadera, Tear, Colville.
BARNSLEY - Ravenhill, Saunders, Lopata, Shepherd (Rayner 46), O’Keefe (Woodcock 46), Bland (c) (Middleton 72), Nwakali (Dunne 64), Town (Richards 84), Lennon (Alker 84), Cleary, Farrell.
REFEREE - Martyn Mitchell.
BARNSLEY GOALS - Leo Farrell 1, Noah Town 57.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - BORO 10 (3 on target) BARNSLEY 11 (5 on target).
CORNERS - BORO 6 BARNSLEY 6.
OFFSIDES - BORO 1 BARNSLEY 2.
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Jack Waldron (match sponsors), Mo Fadera (Scarborough News).
ATTENDANCE - 2,322 (748 away).