Sport

Mixed start to the season for title-favourite Bees

Nick Sandamas on Barnet FC’s inconsistent August

Barnet FC in action at Maidenhead United
The Bees in action at Maidenhead – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

With the first month of the season almost over, it’s time to reflect on how the Bees are doing in their tag as pre-season title favourites.

After a summer where twelve players came through The Hive door, a good pre-season followed where the side were unbeaten.

The opening day saw a trip to the Shay to face FC Halifax Town.

Four players made their debuts in the starting eleven, but it was a tough afternoon as the Bees were beaten 2-1 with two second half goals by Cooke and Adetoro giving the Shayman the points. Ben Coker was on the scoresheet for the Bees.

Next up for the Bees was a trip to Ebbsfleet United, themselves also beaten on opening day, albeit 5-1 at Gateshead.

Despite total domination by the Bees, they only ended up with a 2-1 win to show for their efforts, with goals in each half scored by Callum Stead. Dominic Poleon scored a consolation effort for the Fleet in the final minute of added time, much to the annoyance of the gaffer Dean Brennan who felt aggrieved that the home side were given the chance to score, whilst also saying his side should have scored five or six.

That win was followed the following Tuesday by a visit to The Hive by newly-relegated Forest Green Rovers, who had started the season positively with a win and a draw, scoring seven goals.

However, their approach in this game was the opposite to their previous two, defending for much of the game. With time running out, the Bees finally breached the Greens’ defence to score the winner through Zak Brunt’s close range strike.

Another home game followed for the Bees for the start of the Bank Holiday with Southend United the visitors and going home beaten 2-1.

Goals in each half gave the Bees their third win on the trot with the goals being scored by two players who were in the starting line up for the first time since their summer moves, first Harry Chapman and then Mark Shelton, who won it with a penalty after Gus Scott-Morriss had equalised for the Shrimpers midway through the second half.

A trip to Maidenhead followed two days later, with the Magpies going into the game without a win from their opening four games. Despite previous form, it was a bad afternoon for the Bees as the home side secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 win thanks to a double from Reece Smith and one from Tristan Abrahams. Callum Stead was the sole Bees scorer with his third of the campaign.

Some sad news was the departure by mutual consent of Harry Pritchard due to health issues. Signed from Eastleigh in June 2022, the 31-year-old went on to make 102 appearances scoring 26 goals. A player that will be sorely missed by the Bees faithful.

As I write this, the Bees in fifth will have hoped to get back to winning ways in their next game against Tamworth. Six games are scheduled for September: The Bees will welcome Altrincham, Braintree and AFC Fylde whilst they will travel to Gateshead, Wealdstone and Aldershot Town.


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