Barnsley began their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 win at sixth-tier Alfreton Town.
The hosts took the lead but Josh Earl levelled before half-time then Max Watters scored minutes after the interval and substitute Josiah Dyer added a third.
A senior first 11 started the game then Darrell Clarke made 11 changes after an hour.
Summer signings Jackson Smith and Marc Roberts started. Donovan Pines was not involved as he continues his recovery following surgery earlier in the year. New player/coach Conor Hourihane was part of the coaching staff but did not play.
Corey O’Keeffe swapped passes with Luca Connell and went clean through but his weak shot was easily saved. The hosts took the lead on 15 minutes when a right-wing cross was turned in at the back post.
Adam Phillips fired well wide from 25 yards then goalkeeper Smith just beat an attacker to the ball after a pass over the top, before he saved a weak shot after another long ball put another attacker clean through.
A fine move saw Luca Connell turn a home player then Jon Russell’s fine through ball played in Sam Cosgrove who rounded the goalkeeper but appeared to be fouled by a the last defender – with Clarke furious on the sidelines.
Earl levelled with a close-range header from an excellent right-wing corner by Luca Connell on 28 minutes. Earl almost scored a second when he slid to meet O’Keeffe’s excellent free-kick but it was scrambled off the line. O’Keeffe then saw a 12-yard shot caught by the goalkeeper after a Roberts cross was cleared.
Smith made another good save after an attacker got in down the left of the box and shot from a tight angle.
Max Watters had a big chance within seconds of the re-start but was denied one-on-one by the goalkeeper.
Minutes later, Watters smashed in from close range after a fine run down the right and into the box from Barry Cotter.
Eleven changes were made after an hour with under 21s players coming on as well as trialists Milan Mbeng, who played in midfield, and former Sheffield United man Connor Barratt, who was at right centre-back.
Dyer made it 3-1 with a cool finish when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, after Barratt surged out of defence and played a fine througball. The young players saw out the win impressively.
First half team: Smith: de Gevigney, Roberts, Earl; O’Keeffe, Connell, Phillips, Russell, Cotter; Watters, Cosgrove.
Team after 60 minutes: Flavell; Barratt, James, Hickingbottom; Nejman, Yoganathan, Makiessi, Mbeng, Chapman, Dyer.
