Nick Sandamas sees the Bees clinch promotion back to the Football League

Fans of Barnet FC invade the pitch following victory over Aldershot to win the National League — Barnet fans celebrate the title win – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 4 Aldershot Town 0

Barnet clinched the National League title and promotion back to the EFL following seven years away with a convincing win over FA Trophy finalists Aldershot Town in front of a sell out Hive crowd.

The Bees also ended their home campaign unbeaten, with only five teams leaving the Hive with even a draw.

This was the first time in 100 years that the Bees had gone through an entire season unbeaten at home and is testament to the players, gaffer Dean Brennan and his coaching staff for what has been an incredible season.

The Bees stuck to the starting XI that had propelled them to the crucial win last time out at Sutton and, within seven minutes of the kick off, the champagne glasses were starting to pop open when they were awarded a spot kick following a push on Callum Stead.

Mark Shelton stepped up and calmly shot low past keeper Marcus Dewhurst to start The Hive rocking.

Josh Barrett then had a chance to level matters later for the Shots, but on-loan keeper Owen Evans turned his shot behind for a corner.

Then, with 22 minutes gone, another penalty and another chance to get the party started.

This time it was Rhys Browne who went down under a challenge from Will Armitage and Shelton (cool as you like) calmly put the penalty away for his fourth goal in two games and a third successful spot kick.

Dewhurst was called into action soon after to beat a Browne effort away as the Bees attempted to put the game to bed within the opening half an hour.

With half time approaching former Bees striker Jack Barham attempted a shot for the Shots but it was easily gathered by Evans.

The second half saw the Bees on fire and a third goal soon arrived with 51 minutes on the clock: Shelton’s shot hitting the back of a Shots defender in the area and dropping to Stead to fire low past the despairing dive of Dewhurst.

Then, three minutes later, the promotion party could really begin with Stead on target with a close range header to make it four-nil with “we’re on our way to the Football League” being sung in all the stands.

With League 2 beckoning, Lee Ndlovu almost put the icing on the cake with the chance of a fifth goal with 10 minutes to go but saw his shot go over the bar.

As the clock ticked past 95 minutes, the referee blew his whistle for the final time at The Hive this season and the fans swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate with their heroes, and the man who has made it happen through three years of hard work, the boss himself, Dean Brennan.

After the initial presentations came the pinnacle, as captain Anthony Hartigan & vice captain Danny Collinge came forward to receive the National League title and then hoist it high in the air.

The Bees have the small matter of one final game, a trip to already relegated AFC Fylde on Bank Holiday Monday with a draw guaranteeing a century of points as they aim to leave the National League with a bang and start preparations for League 2 next season.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Oluwo, Taveres, Coker (Cropper 83), Glover, Shelton (Clifford 83), Hartigan, Browne (Brunt 70), Stead (Chapman 78), Ndlovu (Telford 87)

Subs not used: Ballagambi, Grimwood

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