A RECORD crowd made for an electric atmosphere at the Wham Stadium – but John Coleman was just disappointed it wasn’t rewarded with Stanley goals.

A total of 4,801 packed into the stadium – exceeding the 4,753 from last season’s promotion charge against Lincoln and closing in on the 5,405 full house.

Almost 2,400 Barnsley fans – in around 22 coaches - made the trip from Yorkshire and enjoyed the pre-match hospitality Accrington and Stanley had to offer with marquees, beer and food.

Both sets of fans mingled happily before the game and the noise inside the ground made for a superb spine-tingling atmosphere – but unfortunately for the Reds, it was the Tykes who left with three points and happy memories of the first league encounter since the 1959/60 season.

Coleman felt Stanley were really now mixing with the ‘big boys’ since promotion last season, with Barnsley relegated from the Championship and tipped to bounce straight back up especially on recent form, having chalked up six wins on the bounce with Saturday’s victory.

But he felt his side stepped up to the mark – and but for a bit more luck at both ends, it could have been a different game.

The Tykes had called on an emergency loan keeper with regular shot-stopper Adam Davis on international duty with Wales and second choice Jack Walton injured.

And Nottingham Forest loanee Jordan Smith – who may only play this one game for Barnsley – put on a man of the match performance on his debut.

Barnsley-born Jordan Clark, a Tykes fan, desperately wanted to repeat the heroics of his Shrewsbury days when he scored the winner against Barnsley in the final minute.

He buzzed around and caused problems and, as Stanley started well, his 20 yard shot had Smith leaning backwards to tip it over the bar.

Sean McConville tested Smith again with a fierce strike which the keeper again kept out.

Stanley had to defend at times but Connor Ripley’s first real save wasn’t until 20 minutes when Barnsley broke and Dimitri Cavare stung the fingers of the keeper.

It was a lively atmosphere without too much goalmouth action until Barnsley took the lead on 36 minutes.

Keiffer Moore cost Barnsley around £750,000 in January this year and his tricky back heel went through Michael Ihiekwe’s legs and found Fulham loan striker Cauley Woodrow who slotted past Ripley. It was Woodrow’s first league start for Daniel Stendel’s side.

Winger Mamadou Thiam was a threat and he tested Ripley after the break while, at the other end, McConville had a couple of chances which weren’t far off.

The game seemed to swing in Stanley’s favour when defender Zeki Fryers, already booked in the 34th minute, was shown red for a challenge on Callum Johnson in midfield on 64 minutes, and the defender was later substituted after having lengthy treatment.

However, the Reds couldn’t make the one-man advantage count and Barnsley remained a threat on the counter attack.

With Stanley pressing, Barnsley broke in the 94th minute and Brad Potts fired at Ripley, the ball looped up and fell nicely for Moore to make it three in three games – although Stanley felt there was a hint of off-side.

The Yorkshire fans were the ones cheering at the final whistle and many went to social media to say how much they had enjoyed their trip to Accrington – ‘ a real ground’ said some.

Coleman will be trying to make sure, on the return match at Oakwell, it can be role-reversal and it’s Stanley who enjoy their day out.