Nick Sandamas sees the Bees enjoy away day derby success to go top of the National League

Wealdstone take on Barnet in the National League — The Bees take on Wealdstone – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Wealdstone 0 Barnet 3

The Bees made it an early evening to remember for the large away, as a dominant performance over their struggling local rivals saw them go top of the table on goals scored ahead of Forest Green Rovers.

The Bees were boasted by the return from injury of Nik Taveres, who slotted into the centre of defence alongside Ade Oluwo, and striker Nicke Kabamba starting on the bench following a month out.

Rhys Browne was given his first start since his summer move from Woking having impressed from the subs bench in his previous two games, but only lasted 18 minutes before going off with hamstring trouble with fellow striker Callum Stead coming on in his place having been relegated to the bench after starting all of the Bees previous nine games this season.

The game had a nervous look to it until the 28th minute when the Bees had their first sight of goal: Harry Chapman produced a storming run into the box and beating two players before firing a low shot which forced Stones’ on-loan keeper Sam Howes to save with his legs.

Soon after, Taveres fired a header wildly over and Mark Shelton had a shot, which was deflected over by a combination of Jack Wells-Morrison and Alex Dyer getting their bodies in the way as the Bees tried to break through.

Callum McFarlane had the one and only chance for the Stones on 40 minutes when he got to the ball ahead of keeper Nick Hayes, but his header just went the wrong side of the post.

The second half kicked off with Chapman passing the ball to Shelton who then tried his luck from 55 yards which forced Howes to back pedal to tip the ball over the bar with both hands.

Then, on the hour, came the breakthrough for the Bees when the ref pointed to the spot following Kallum Cesay’s foul on Chapman after being deceived by a short free kick from Anthony Hartigan.

Shelton took the spot kick and calmly rolled the ball into the net for his third goal of the season to give the Bees a deserved lead.

Before the Stones had a chance to try and restore parity, the Bees doubled their lead six minutes later when Ben Coker’s corner missed everyone in the six yard box except Stead who was waiting at the back post to fire the ball into the net.

McFarlane was the main threat for the Stones and had two decent opportunities to get his side back in it, first a shot which was deflected wide for a corner, followed by an even better chance when he headed against the post after a decent cross into the box by Elliott Thorpe.

In between those two McFarlane chances, Chapman forced Howes at the near post to beat the ball away for a corner.

The icing on the cake for a perfect Bees performance came in added time with goal number three, when the returning Kabamba took a pass from Stead to shoot low first time underneath the body of Howes to make it a good away day for the large Bees contingent, who were able to round off the perfect Saturday night singing “we are top of the league”.

The Bees next action is this coming Tuesday with a trip to face Aldershot Town.

Team: Hayes, Coker (Cropper 82), Oluwo, Taveres, Kenlock, Hartigan, Shelton, Brunt (Hobson 78) Chapman (Kabamba 75), Browne (Stead 18), Glover (Kanu 86)

Subs not used: Gilmore, Kizzi

Attendance: 2590

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