Our Under-21s suffered a 4-1 defeat to Barnsley at Thorp Arch on Monday afternoon.

Despite dominating the first-half chances, with Casper Sloth, Chris Dawson and Lee Erwin all coming close to opening the scoring, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as Harry White side-footed home a left-wing cross.

And Barnsley’s advantage was extended with two goals in the space of two second-half minutes to all but put the game beyond the United youngsters’ reach.

Mohamed Saeed doubled their lead on 53 minutes, tucking a low cutback into the bottom corner with a composed finish, before striker Bradley Ash converted from the penalty spot following a foul from goalkeeper Eric Grimes.

Recent signing from Doncaster Rovers, Jack McKay, in his first appearance in United colours, did manage to pull one back after 65 minutes, forcing home a smart cross from Tyler Denton.

But Barnsley soon had their fourth, again from the penalty spot, as Ash tucked the ball away from 12 yards out on an afternoon to forget for the United youngsters.

Under-21s team vs Barnsley: Grimes, Purver, P McKay, Skelton (Walters 73), Denton, Sloth, Dawson, Stokes (Parkin 79), Botaka, Erwin, J McKay (Mulhern 73). Subs not used: Vieira, Lyman.