Sport

Bees end tough October with victory

Nick Sandamas on a month which saw Barnet FC slip from top spot to third in the National League

Barnet FC taking AFC Fylde in the National League
The Bees taking on AFC Fylde (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

The Bees went into the start of October top of the National League but, by the end of it, had slipped to third following successive defeats against Solihull Moors and York City before getting back on the winning track against Rochdale.

They started the month with a home match against newly-promoted Boston United and it was the Lincolnshire outfit who shocked the Bees by taking the lead after six minutes through Keaton Ward.

It was still 1-0 to the Pilgrims going into half time but, by the second half, the Bees got into gear and opened up the Pilgrims’ defence on three occasions to win 3-1, with Callum Stead, Nik Taveres and Nicke Kabamba all hitting the back of the net.

The following Saturday, the FA Cup took centre stage as the Bees hosted National South Chelmsford City for a place in the 1st round proper.

It became a canter for the Bees, who dispatched the Essex outfit to the tune of 4-0 to make it seven wins on the spin: Callum Stead with two first half goals with Ryan Glover and Zak Brunt adding to the scoreline in the second half.

The draw 48 hours later handed the Bees with a tough away trip to League One promotion chasers Exeter City.

Back to the league and the Bees’ winning run was to come to an end seven days later as last season’s play-off finalists Solihull Moors fought back from a goal down to win 4-3.

The Bees took the lead through Nicke Kabamba’s early goal but, by half time, the Moors turned it round to lead through Jack Stevens and the unlucky Joe Kizzi with an own goal.

It got worse for the Bees in the early moments of the second half as Sam Bowen netted to give the Moors a two-goal cushion and, on 75 minutes, James Gale made it 4-1.

The Bees did pull two goals back in injury time to add some gloss to the scoreline: first Zak Brunt, then Kabamba with his second but the game was lost before that.

Although the defeat kept the Bees on top, only goal difference separated them from Forest Green Rovers.

Next up was an away trip to third placed York City but it was a tough night for the Bees as, like against Solihull, they opened the scoring but ultimately fell to defeat to drop to third place.

On loan Bailey Hobson got on the scoresheet for the midfielder’s first goal in a Bees shirt but former Bee Marvin Armstrong restored parity in first half stoppage time.

Two goals in three minutes effectively finished the Bees off in the second half.

First Alex Hunt on 74 minutes, followed three minutes later by Ollie Pearce, confirmed the points for the Minstermen.

Then, for the last game of the month, the Bees welcomed 5th placed Rochdale.

A tough encounter was expected & so it proved: despite a second half fightback from the Dale, the Bees took all 3 points with a 2-1 win.

Nicke Kabamba took advantage of a mistake to give his side the lead on six minutes. Ben Coker made it two on 41 minutes with a peach of a strike.

Ian Henderson pulled one back with 20 minutes to go following an error from Ade Oluwo which was capitalized by the substitute and, despite chances for the Dale (including hitting the post & bar), the Bees held on to take all 3 points to stay third, with the top 4 all separated by just two points.

There are six games to come in November starting with a trip to League 1 Exeter City in the FA Cup.

This includes home league games against Oldham Athletic & Woking with away trips to Dagenham & Redbridge, Yeovil Town & Hartlepool United (provisional)


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