Nick Sandamas reports on easy stroll for the Bees

Barnet FC take on Southend United at Roots Hall — The Bees in action at Southend – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Southend United 0 Barnet 3

Barnet made it twelve league games unbeaten with an emphatic 3-0 win on the road against Southend, completing the double over their Essex opponents for the second season running.

The Bees only change from their midweek draw at Forest Green was a starting place for striker Rhys Browne in place of the injured centre half Ade Oluwo.

Josh Walker had the chance of the match for the Shrimpers on twelve minutes, but his shot was comfortable for keeper Owen Evans.

Then, with 23 minutes on the clock, the Bees drew first blood when a corner from Anthony Hartigan found Danny Collinge waiting at the far post to head the ball into the net unchallenged.

Ten minutes later, the Bees doubled their advantage when good passing between Ryan Glover and Myles Kenlock ended with the latter crossing low into the box for Mark Shelton to score. Replays later showed it may have come off a home player last but nevertheless it was 2-0.

The second half followed more or less the same pattern as the first and on 64 minutes the Shrimpers thought they had halved the deficit through Walker’s close range finish, but the referee chalked it off for a foul on Evans much to the dismay of manager Kevin Maher, his coaching staff & the players.

This seem to knock the Shrimpers off their perch and with fifteen minutes left on the clock, the Bees finished the job off with goal number three.

Again from a corner, Zak Brunt to Joe Grimwood whose deft flick came straight to Collinge to head into the net similar to his first goal.

A comfortable afternoon for the 474 travelling fans who saw their team keep up the pace at the top and with York losing, the Bees rise to second just a point off leaders Forest Green as this title race took another twist.

This could all change again in midweek when York go to Oldham.

Next Saturday the Bees host Maidenhead, their first home game of 2025 following four successive games on the road.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Taveres, Kenlock (Grimwood 54), Kanu, Shelton, Hartigan ©, Stead (Coker 95) Browne (Brunt 68), Ndlovu (Cropper 90), Glover.

Subs not used: Hayes, Hall-Johnson, Clifford

Attendance 6955 (474 away fans)

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