ACADEMY player Joe Skarz caught the eye as Town Reserves sealed a 1-0 win at Barnsley.
The 16-year-old, making his first appearance for the second team, capped a fine display by firing in the free-kick from which David Walls netted Town's first-half winner with a well-placed shot.
Because of a string of call-offs, the Pontin's Holidays League Division I Central game was the Reserves' first since late October, when they went down 2-0 at Stoke City.
But there were no signs of ring rust as first team trio Martin McIntosh, Adnan Ahmed and John McAliskey all completed the full 90 minutes at Oakwell as they stepped up their return from injuries.
John Dungworth's side were soon into their stride, with James Hand lively on the left and Matty Young, who operated just behind frontman McAliskey, proving a handful for the home defence.
Town weren't so commanding in the second half, but with McIntosh linking well with John McCombe in the centre of defence, Barnsley never really looked like levelling.
A happy Dungworth said: "It wasn't just McIntosh, Ahmed and McAliskey who needed the run-out, because the rest of the Reserve lads have been short of action.
"You can do all the training you want, but you can't get that crucial sharpness without playing games.
"We were excellent in the first half, closing them down and passing well, and while there were a few gaps in the second, we were never troubled."
Team: Senior, Hardy, Skarz, Collins, McCombe, McIntosh, Walls (Biddle, 75mins), Ahmed, McAliskey, Young, Hand. Subs not used: Eastwood, Berrett, Malcher, Atkins.
