Opening day defeat for the Valiants

The Valiants had the majority of the ball in the early stages and created the first opportunity on seven minutes. After winning a corner, the ball was played in to the area and on to the head of Dan Jones but his effort just went over the bar.

Barnsley answered back six minutes later with a shot from Jordan Williams. The ball dropped for him nicely outside of the box but the defender skewed his strike wide of Connor Ripley's goal.

The home side then took the lead on 21 minutes against the run of play with Vale having dominated the ball. Corey O'Keefe drove down the right flank before finding Devante Cole in the area to tap home the opening goal.

We looked for a quick equaliser through Tom Sang and Ellis Harrison. Sang found room on the edge of the area for a shot but his effort flew over the crossbar. A minute later Harrison must have thought he had scored with a close range header but Liam Roberts in goal did well to parry the ball away.

Right on 45 minutes Barnsley doubled their advantage with an unfortunate Jones own goal. A cross from the left flashed across the face of goal but the ball bounced off the chest of Jones at the back post to give the hosts a two goal advantage.

Three minutes after half time Barnsley had a third. Cole was on the scoresheet again with a goal similar to his first with a low driven cross from right which found the forward in front of goal to increase the home side's lead.

Shortly afterwards Cole completed his hatrick. His shot went through the legs of Ripley and just about trickled over the goal line.

Barnsley made it five on the hour mark as Liam Kitching ran through to smash home. Jon Russell's header then made it 6-0 on 66 minutes following a Barnsley free kick before Andy Dallas added a seventh deep in to stoppage time.

Barnsley | Liam Roberts, Jordan Williams, Jon Russell (78' Andy Dallas), Kacper Lopata, Liam Kitching (78' Theo Champman), Nicky Cadden, Herbie Kane, Callum Styles, Corey O'Keefe (33' Barry Cotter), Max Watters (61' Oli Shaw), Devante Cole (78' Jack Shepard)

Unused Subs | Ben Killip, Charlie Winfield

Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Lewis Cass, Dan Jones, Tom Sang (64' James Plant), Nathan Smith, Mitch Clark (46' Ethan Chislett), Ben Garrity, Ellis Harrison (70' ALex Iacovitti), Funso Ojo, Conor Grant (70' Ollie Arblaster), Gavin Massey (56' Josh Thomas)

Unused Subs | Jayson Leutweiler, James Wilson