Nick Sandamas sees table-topping Barnet FC fail to overcome local rivals Wealdstone

Barnet FC playing Wealdstone in a National League match — The Bees take on Wealdstone at The Hive (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 1 Wealdstone 1

National League leaders Barnet missed the chance to strengthen their grip on top spot after being held to a derby draw against relegation-threatened Wealdstone; a result that ended the Bees’ run of seven home wins on the bounce.

A few weeks ago, it seemed as though Dean Brennan’s side would cruise through to the title but, with only one point gained from the last two games, along with second-placed York’s sudden upturn in form, the lead is now down to six points with four games to play.

Following the previous Saturday’s loss at Braintree, Brennan reacted by making four changes to the starting line up including restoring Lee Ndlovu following injury, while still missing the influential Idris Kanu on the wing.

Early chances fell the Bees’ way as they look to take the game to the Stones. Both Rhys Browne & Ryan Glover came close to giving the leaders the lead within the opening ten minutes, but Stones’ keeper Dante-Astor Baptiste got in the way of both efforts.

Anthony Hartigan was next to try his luck but his weak shot from the edge of the box easily found the gloves of Baptiste.

Then, on 31 minutes, the breakthrough finally when Hartigan floated an inch perfect free kick to the back post and Adu Oluwo was there to head the ball into the net: a rare goal for the centre half and crucially the lead.

A blow came shortly after the goal with the loss of ever present left back Myles Kenlock who was forced off injured following a bang on his knee after a challenge which the referee didn’t seem fit to book the guilty player for. This meant player-coach Jerome Okimo coming on for only his third game of the season.

Stones rarely tested the Bees’ defence in the first half but were a different proposition after the interval with their first effort on target on 55 minutes.

Following a free kick from Max Kretzchmar, a vicious volley from Enzio Boldewijn was turned away for a corner by keeper Owen Evans.

Five minutes later Evans was called into action to make a double save. First he spread himself to block Kallum Cesay’s shot one-on-one, then did even better when the ball came back into the box: diving full length to get both hands to the ball to claw away Kretzchmar’s close range header.

But on-loan keeper Evans was helpless on 80 minutes, when the Stones levelled matters through Harrison Sohna’s low shot.

Browne and Harry Chapman came close to giving the Bees all three points with opportunities late on but it was not to be and a point was the end result.

With York going to thrash Aldershot later in the afternoon to trim the lead to six points, the Bees’ home encounter against Eastleigh on Good Friday takes on big significance as the York result will be known once the Bees kick off at 5:30 pm.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Oluwo, Kenlock (Oluwo 39), Coker (Taveres 85), Glover (Telford 79), Shelton, Hartigan, Browne, Stead (Brunt 68), Ndlovu (Chapman 71),

Subs not used: Ballagambi, Clifford

Attendance 3674 (757 away fans)

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