Rochdale’s behind closed doors pre-season friendly against Championship side Barnsley on Wednesday afternoon ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

The Tykes took a two goal lead into the interval, before Aaron Morley netted a second half penalty, in the highly competitive fixture at the Crown Oil Arena. 

The visitors opened the scoring on 13 minutes, when Carlton Morris glanced a header into the far corner from a free-kick sent in from the right. 

They extended their lead seven minutes later through Liam Kitching who rose highest to meet a cross to the back post. 

Morris headed over a short time later, while Cauley Woodrow curled an effort over from 25-yards after picking up a loose ball and striding forward before getting his shot away. 

There were nine changes at the break and Dale went onto halve the deficit seven minutes after the restart from the spot after Abraham Odoh was upended inside the area. 

Morley stepped up to take the penalty and coolly fired home. 

Shortly after the hour Barnsley’s Elliott Simoes headed narrowly wide of Lynch’s upright, before Ollie Rathbone had an opportunity to equalise. 

The midfielder did brilliantly to get into the area and flashed a strike across goal that went narrowly wide of the far post. 

Lynch made way for Brad Wade on 71 minutes, while Kacper Mialkowski replaced Trialist B a short time later.

In between the two substitutions Odoh had burst into the box but Bradley Collins got down to gather at his feet as he looked to get his shot away. 

The forward was involved again on 78 minutes as he an effort kept out by the ‘keeper. 

Late on, Morley played a fine ball through to Jordan Scanlon who pulled it back for Mialkowski, but the stretching scholar couldn’t quite get the decisive touch after sliding in. 

Next up, Fleetwood Town visit the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday 17th July, 3pm. We look forward to seeing supporters at the match! Click HERE to purchase your tickets. 

First Half XI | Lynch, Keohane, O'Connell, Trialist A, Trialist B, Brierley, Kershaw, Grant, Newby, Jesus, Beesley.

Second Half XI | Lynch (Wade 71), Scanlon, McShane, McNulty, Dunne, Trialist B (Mialkowski 78), Morley, Dooley, Rathbone, Done, Odoh.