David McGoldrick scored a hat-trick as Barnsley ended a six-game winless run in all competitions with a 5-2 home victory over Manchester United under 21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening.
The visitors took an early lead but McGoldrick levelled from the penalty spot just before the interval then put his side in front soon after half-time only for United to level almost instantly.
McGoldrick completed his hat-trick just after the hour then United immediately had a player sent off before Neil Farrugia scored his first Reds goal then substitute Jon Russell added another.
The Reds now have three points from their two games in the trophy and are second in the group ahead of their final game at home to leaders Lincoln on November 11.
Conor Hourihane made eight changes from the league draw at Bradford on Saturday. Only Caylan Vickers, Nathanael Ogbeta and Adam Phillips stayed in the 11 while Marc Roberts played for the first time since picking up an injury on the opening day. Jacob Devaney, who is from Barnsley, captained the visitors whose entire squad were 20 or under.
Phillips came close in the second minute when he latched onto an excellent McGoldrick pass over the defence and forced a save out of William Murdock from the right of the box.
But the Reds conceded in the seventh minute when Vimal Yoganathan was robbed of the ball just outside his box by Chido Obi before Jack Fletcher’s 20-yard shot hit Jake Rooney and deflected in.
Shea Lacey should have made it 2-0 when played into space on the right and beating Rooney but his weak shot was easily saved by Kieren Flavell. The goalkeeper caught an effort from the left wing by Obi who also volleyed wide from a left-wing cross.
Phillips almost levelled on 26 minutes when he headed Ogbeta’s left-wing cross onto the post from close range then the rebound hit him and was saved.
Flavell got down well to his right to keep out a 22-yard strike from Jack Fletcher but it was the Reds who scored next. After Farrugia put goalkeeper Murdock under pressure he passed straight to Phillips who was brought down in the box by Daniel Armer. McGoldrick dispatched the penalty with ease, because usual taker Phillip was down injured and had to be replaced by Jon Russell.
Flavell again saved from Lacey in the box after a good run in first half stoppage time.
After the break, Vickers burst into the box on the left and saw a shot saved by Murdock.
Vickers set up the second home goal on 51 minutes, driving through the middle then playing an excellent pass to McGoldrick who beat Murdock one-on-one.
But the lead lasted about a minute as Rooney lost the ball near halfway and Lacey played in Obi to beat Flavell one-on-one.
McGoldrick completed his hat-trick just after the hour-mark. After Patrick Kelly took a quick free-kick, Vickers again played him clean through and he chipped the goalkeeper.
Jack Fletcher given a straight red card immediately afterwards, apparently for dissent.
Farrugia was played clean through by a fine Russell pass and found the bottom left corner from the right of the box. Ogbeta then impressively played Russell through to beat the goalkeeper for the fifth.
Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Flavell; de Gevigney, Rooney, Roberts, Ogbeta (Keillor-Dunn 82mins); Kelly (Shepherd 71mins), Yoganathan; Phillips (Russell 45), Vickers (Alker 82), McGoldrick; Farrugia.
Subs: Smith, Cleary, Earl.
Goals: McGoldrick 43 (pen), 51, 62. Farrugia 73, Russell 78.
Manchester United under 21s: Murdock; Helafu (McAllister 58mins), Armer, Fredricson, Leon (Scanlon 63); Fletcher, J Fletcher, Devaney, Lacey (Fitzgerarld 80), Obi (Biancheri 80), Mantato.
Subs: Heath, Musa, Thwaites.
Red cards: J Fletcher.
Goals: J Fletcher 7, Obi 52.
