EFL Trophy: Barnsley 5 United U21s 2

Travis Binnion's side were excellent in the first half and unlucky to be pegged back before the break when David McGoldrick converted a penalty to cancel out Jack Fletcher's seventh-minute opener.

The League One side upped their game following the restart, with McGoldrick completing a hat-trick, either side of a Chido Obi strike that was well received by the 382 Reds fans in the away section of Oakwell.

Jack Fletcher's red card further hampered United's cause and the South Yorkshire side took full advantage, with Neil Farrugia and Jon Russell generating a 5-2 scoreline that would not have been believable judging by the opening period.

Although Phillips provided an early tester for Will Murdock with a decent attempt, the Reds went ahead from our first dangerous attack of the night. Obi robbed Vimal Yoganathan, who ended up bringing the striker down in the box. Instead of waiting to see if a penalty would be awarded, Jack Fletcher was on hand to profit with a deflected strike that flew past Kieren Flavell.

It was another nice moment for the midfielder on the ground where he scored a couple of belters in a previous tie in this competition and also coming in front of his father Darren, who was watching in the stand.

The next clear opening came in the 24th minute, when Shea Lacey looked set to double the lead but, after dummying onto his left foot, his low effort was saved by Flavell. The home keeper's next stop was more comfortable, when Obi tried to exploit a good ball down the line by Bendito Mantato, but he was relieved to see Obi flash a Mantato cross wide, which came to the young hitman at an awkward height.

Seconds later, Barnsley were denied an equaliser, against the run of play, when a perfect delivery from the left by raiding full-back Nathanael Ogbeta was headed against a post by Phillips and the rebound bounced back off the Tykes' no.8 but Murdock dived to clutch it gratefully.

After that let off, Flavell was equal to a fierce, fizzing drive by Jack Fletcher from outside the area and Mantato opted to square rather than shoot when it came out to him, with the Yorkshiremen clearing their lines. United had looked comfortable but were guilty of overplaying at the back, with Murdock put under pressure and Dan Armer's lunge bringing Phillips down.

McGoldrick stepped up to slam home the spot-kick and, although Lacey again illustrated his threat by forcing another stop out of Flavell, it was all square going into the interval.

It was a whirlwind start to the second half, with Barnsley exerting their authority from the outset. Caylan Vickers burst through to force a good parry out of Murdock, diving to his right, and the Reds keeper may have got a feint touch to help over a McGoldrick drive, although a goal-kick was awarded.

A goal seemed on the cards and it duly arrived in the 52nd minute. Skipper Jacob Devaney was unfortunate to tread on the ball and slip, and Vickers pounced, releasing McGoldrick with a precise through ball, and the veteran supplied a clinical finish for his second of the night.

Yet United responded instantly, Lacey leading a three-on-two charge forward and opting to feed Obi to his right. The centre-forward drilled in an excellent shot to gobble up the chance and spark loud cheers from the away fans behind the goal.

Murdock denied McGoldrick, though the offside flag was up in any case, and Diego Leon made a vital interception when Russell looked certain to score but the hosts' pressure paid off again, in the 62nd minute. McGoldrick was clean through and finished with a cheeky dink over Murdock for his hat-trick.

United's task became even harder as Jack Fletcher was sent off, presumably for dissent, before the game could restart.

The League One side added a fourth when Farrugia angled in a precise finish to cap an incisive move that cut through the United defence. Number five was claimed by Russell, as the substitute again made the most when presented with a one-on-one opportunity with an unprotected Murdock.

Although James Scanlon fired a late chance over, it all added up to a second successive defeat in the Vertu-sponsored competition on a damp night in South Yorkshire.

MATCH DETAILS

Barnsley: Flavell; Ogbeta (Alker 82), Rooney, De Gevigney; Roberts; Yoganathan, Kelly (Shepherd 70); Vickers (Keillor-Dunn 82), Phillips (Russell 44); McGoldrick; Farrugia.

Subs not used: Smith, Cleary, Earl.

Scorer: McGoldrick 43 (pen), 52, 62, Farrugia 74, Russell 79.

United: Murdock; Helafu (McAllister 57), Armer, Fredricson, Leon (Scanlon 63); Devaney, T.Fletcher; Lacey (Fitzgerald 80), J.Fletcher, Mantato; Obi (Biancheri 80).  

Subs not used: Heath, Thwaites, Musa.

Scorer: J.Fletcher 7, Obi 53.

Sent off: J.Fletcher 63.