Carlisle United held an interval lead at Barnsley but couldn’t hold on as they lost 2-1 at Oakwell.
Scoring first has been a big problem for the Blues in League One but on this occasion they had the lead after only seven minutes.
Recent signing Luke Armstrong scored his first goal for the club when he was quick to react when he intercepted a Barnsley clearance before thumping the ball home into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Carlisle were unlucky not to increase their lead when Jack Ellis sent in a useful cross and Dan Butterworth dived forward to get in a header which came back off the post.
There was one moment of alarm in the first half, in which Barnsley failed to get a shot on target, when Owen Moxon did well helping out in defence with a clearance over the bar when Devante Cole looked a certain scorer.
It had been a good first-half effort from the Blues, looking the more dangerous side and also restricting their hosts to minimal efforts.
Barnsley responded after the break by starting on the front foot and it looked as though it might be a long second-half for the Cumbrians.
Callum Styles had the opportunity with a free kick in a good position but he fired well over the bar.
When Carlisle did break Armstrong was unlucky not to grab a second goal but this time a dipping effort from distance dropped just over the bar.
It was Barnsley, though, who made the breakthrough with a 58th minute leveller. Jordan Williams was allowed to get forward too easily and when he found Cole the home side’s top scorer fired home from a tight angle.
The winner for Barnsley came four minutes from time – and from the penalty spot.
Herbie Kane fired in the spot kick after Adam Phillips had gone down under pressure in the area and referee Will Finnie pointed straight to the spot.
Carlisle did their utmost to snatch an equaliser in time added on. Substitute Jordan Gibson saw a shot blocked while Moxon fired a 30-
The crowd of 11,507 included 883 from Carlisle.
