Nick Sandamas sees the Bees win to close gap on the top two

Action from Barnet FC's National League match with Woking at The Hive — Myles Kenlock and Anthony Hartigan prepare for a free kick during Barnet’s clash with Woking (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 2 Woking 0

Barnet closed the gap on the top two to a mere point, as victory over Woking at a windswept and rainy Hive to maintained their unbeaten home record with their ninth win out of ten.

It was the visitors who made the brighter start with three opportunities in the opening ten minutes kicking into the wind.

The first chance fell to Tom Leahy, who flashed a header over the bar following a good cross into the box by Jack Stretton.

Then Dion Kelly-Evans came even closer – his header hitting the top of the bar and then Matt Ward shooting over from Dale Gorman’s free kick.

With the Bees playing a 3-4-3 formation they finally got into their stride and, on 19 minutes, took the lead when Anthony Hartigan’s free kick into the box caused panic, the ball eventually finding the feet of Ryan Browne on the edge of the area. He shot low into the net past a posse of players to score his second goal in the last two games.

Stretton had half a chance to level minutes later, but his effort struck the boot of Bees’ defender Nik Taveres and went out for a corner.

The rest of the first half was nip and tuck with limited chances on goal as the wind and rain had its say.

With the Bees kicking into the wind for the second half, it took them just seven minutes to double their lead. This time, goalscorer Browne was the provider with a cross field pass into the box to Bailey Hobson. He forced Cards’ keeper Will Jaaskelainen to save, but the ball came back out to the on loan midfielder to shot low into the net to make it 2-0 and provide breathing space for the title chasers.

The game thereafter saw the Bees dominate with plenty of opportunities to make the scoreline more comfortable and enhance their goal difference

Sub Zak Brunt came close on two occasions, screwing a shot just wide then a curler just whistling past the post.

Another sub Jordan Cropper also went close with a shot which was deflected wide, whilst the Cards’ Lewis Walker blasted over in what became the final chance of the match late on as the Bees clean sheet remained intact.

It was a difficult afternoon for both sides with the conditions but the Bees mastered it well with two goals and a clean sheet, maintaining their strong home record and most importantly three points to keep pace with the top two.

With two matches to come, both away, first to Yeovil this Wednesday then to Hartlepool next Saturday the fact that are more players slowly returning from injury will add more strength to the Bees’ squad as they continue their pursuit of top spot.

Team: Hayes, Coker (Cropper 82) Aluwo, Taveres (Collinge 69) Kenlock, Hartigan, Kanu, Stead (Clifford 90) Browne (Brunt 64) Kabamba, Kanu

Subs not used: Gambagemi, Grimwood, Hall-Richards

Attendance: 1532 (257 away fans)

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