Nick Sandamas sees the table-topping Bees extend their unbeaten run to 15 games

Barnet FC in action against Tamworth in the National League — The Bees in action at Tamworth last Saturday – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Tamworth 0 Barnet 1

Leaders Barnet continued their pursuit of promotion with a vital away win at Tamworth. Callum Stead’s first half goal was enough to secure the three points and make it fifteen league games unbeaten.

Dean Brennan fielded the same starting XI for the third successive game as the Bees sought another win to strengthen their position in top spot.

Named on the bench was striker Dom Telford recently signed on loan from Barrow until the end of the season.

It was 20 minutes in before the first chance was created and this came to Mark Shelton, but the Bees midfielder blazed his shot over the bar.

The two crucial moments of the match came within 60 seconds of each other when a corner by the Lambs Ben Milnes on 35 minutes was headed towards goal forcing keeper Owen Evans into a fantastic save – and the ball was then cleared up the other end to Zak Brunt who found Callum Stead in the box to volley past the diving Jas Singh in the Lambs goal to give the leaders the lead.

Just two minutes into the second half and a chance fell to the Bees to double the lead, but Brunt shot wide.

Then, just past the hour, a corner taken by Milnes saw Jordan Culliane-Libard head straight into Evans’ gloves.

Evans was called upon again a few minutes later to brilliantly tip over Milnes free kick from the left before Singh was called into action with 20 minutes left to push away Shelton’s shot after Rhys Browne had played the ball into the midfielder’s path.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, the Lambs were reduced to ten men following a second yellow card given to long throw expert Culliane-Liburd for pushing Browne in the back.

As the clock ticked into time added on, Shelton saw Singh again in full flight to deny him a goal, a good reaction save from the Lambs number one to tip the ball behind for a corner.

It didn’t matter in the end as Stead’s first half goal proved to be enough to give the Bees and the 329 travelling fans their fourth successive win & their fifth shutout in a row to move six points clear of second placed York City (who have two games in hand)

The Bees are back on the road again next Saturday with second bottom Boston United the hosts.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Tavares, Kenlock, Glover (Coker 79), Hartigan ©, Shelton, Brunt (Browne 67), Stead, Ndlovu, Kanu

Subs not used: Ballagambi, Telford, Clifford, Grimwood, Cropper

Attendance: 1438 (329 away fans)

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