Sport

Match report: Barnet vs Maidenhead

Nick Sandamas sees the Bees win to return to the top

Barnet FC taking on Maidenhead Utd at The Hive
The Bees taking on Maidenhead – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 3 Maidenhead United 0

It was good afternoon’s work for Barnet on Saturday as this three points, coupled with both fellow title challengers’ Forest Green & York City failing to win, meant the Bees hit the summit as a tight title race took another twist.

The Bees dominated from start to finish and really should have had more goals but had to settle for the three.

Both keeper Owen Evans and striker Lee Ndlovu made their home debuts as the Bees’ starting XI showed just the one change from the previous week’s win at Southend: Zak Brunt in for Rhys Browne who dropped to the bench.

Brunt and Ryan Glover had early chances to give the black and amber the lead but didn’t take them.

Ndlovu then had an even better opportunity to open his account for the club on 25 minutes when, after a ball from Mark Shelton, he found himself in a one-on-one with only Magpies’ keeper Craig Ross to beat but the number 1 pulled off a good instinctive save to push the ball away for a corner.

However, from the corner, the Bees did take the lead when the cross found Glover, his towering header was then cleared off the line by Nathan Ferguson, but the ball came straight out to Callum Stead standing on the penalty spot to fire low into the net from six yards.

Five minutes from half time, a foul on Brunt on the right edge of the area presented the Bees with a chance of a second goal with half time just around the corner.

Anthony Hartigan fired the kick towards goal and it was heading for the top corner until Ross dived to his right to get both hands to the ball to claw it away from goal.

However, with the second half just two minutes old, the Bees struck that all important second goal when Stead played the ball across the face of goal to Kanu who laid a short pass Shelton to stroke the ball into the net first time for a two-goal cushion and breathing space.

Brunt continued to be a menace for the Magpies and created two good chances for himself but fired over each time.

With 20 minutes left, the win was confirmed with goal number three following some more great passing. It began with Stead on the left playing the ball across to Brunt supplying a short pass to Kanu to score low past Ross, a goal that even manager Dean Brennan enjoyed.

Kanu was substituted minutes later to much applause from the home faithful who appreciated his man of the match performance, topped off with a much deserved goal.

Minutes later, the Magpies did attempt to at least get on the scoresheet with a rare foray into the opposition half but Shawn McCoulsky blazed his shot into the empty seats behind the goal.

Then, with 10 minutes left, a header from Theo Sho-Silva was comfortably by keeper Evans to ensure he kept his third successive clean sheet.

So, with other results going their way, the Bees found themselves top before yesterday’s win over Hartlepool.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Tavares (Grimwood 85), Kenlock, Glover, Shelton, Hartigan ©, Brunt (Clifford 81), Stead, Ndlovu (Browne 73), Kanu (Coker 73)

Subs not used: Hayes, Hall-Johnson, Cropper

Attendance 1630 (101 away fans)


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