Nick Sandamas reports on a 2-0 victory in the Bees final pre-season friendly

The Bees warmed up for the start of the National League season in a week’s time with a good win over League Two AFC Wimbledon at The Hive; the win ensuring that they ended their pre-season campaign unbeaten with five wins and a draw.
The Bees started on the front foot and on 13 minutes created the first sight of goal when Billy Clifford played in Idris Kanu whose first time shot saw Dons’ keeper Owen Goodman block the ball with his legs.
In the 20th minute, the Bees were awarded a great chance to open the scoring when the referee pointed to the spot, Jon Stead falling under a challenge from Issac Ogundere.
Top scorer for the last two seasons Nicke Kabamba took charge, calmly placing a shot low to the keeper’s right with the keeper going the other way.
Minutes later, the Dons had a sniff of a chance to draw level, but Matt Stevens scuffed the ball wide of the far post from the six yard box.
Five minutes after the first goal, the Bees were awarded another penalty, this time Ryan Johnson was the guilty man as Kanu went down, however Goodman got his revenge, guessing right to deny Kabamba the opportunity to double his tally and his sides lead.
On the half hour mark, Stevens had another chance to restore parity, but the returning Danny Collinge got his foot in the way at the last moment to divert the striker’s shot away for a corner after he had rounded keeper Nick Hayes.
In the early moments of the second half, Myles Hippolyte blazed his effort over the bar for the Dons on the edge of the box as they tried to level.
Both sides then made changes to personnel and it was the Bees who continued to threaten, with Ben Coker seeing his close range volley cleared off the line by a string of Dons bodies, this after good work on the wing by Kanu.
Then, on 79 minutes, the Bees effectively sealed the deal by scoring goal number two when captain for the day Anthony Hartigan whipped in a dangerous free kick into the six yard box straight onto the head of Ade Oluwo who jumped highest to head into the net.
Near the end Dons sub Joe Pigott had an opportunity of a consolation goal to give the away fans something to cheer about, but Hayes pulled off an excellent reaction save to preserve his clean sheet and give the team a boast going into next Saturday’s opener away to FC Halifax Town.
Team: Hayes, Kenlock, Oluwo, Collinge (Kizzi 45), Coker (Okimo 70), Brunt (Wilkinson 70), Hartigan, Clifford, Stead, Kabamba, Kanu
Subs not used: Gilmore (GK), Rye, Grimwood, Matejko
Attendance: 722 (252 away)
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