Barnet began their preparations for their return to the Football League at Hitchin on Tuesday reports Nick Sandamas

Players from Barnet and Hitchin contest a pre-season friendly — Barnet FC in pre-season action at Hitchin (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet opened their pre-season programme with a resounding victory over Hitchin Town at Top Field on a balmy summer’s evening.

Rhys Browne opened the scoring for the National League title winners on eight minutes when Anthony Hartigan’s pinpoint ball into the box found Ryan Galvin, who then played the ball across the six-yard box to the feet of Browne to tap into the net.

Browne came close to scoring again five minutes later when his sweet shot was saved by Canaries’ keeper Tyrese Kamera.

Then on twenty minutes, Browne was upended by Charlie Briggs in the box and the former Woking man tucked the ball into the net for a two goal lead.

Six minutes later, the Bees scored a third goal to more or less seal the win when a ball into the box found new signing Adam Senior who headed into the net.

The Canaries had their first sight of goal on thirty five minutes when Will McNeill forced Owen Evans into a good save.

With both sides virtually putting out different sides for the second half, and the Bees seeing first glimpses of some of their new signings, chances became few and far between.

A Canaries trialist had a good chance to get his side on the scoresheet early in the second half, but the trialist Bees keeper beat the ball away from goal. Soon after, another Bees summer signing, Ollie Kensdale, struck the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds.

The Bees trialist keeper almost had a moment of embarrassment, but did well to scamper back to his line to hook the ball away from goal.

A good workout for the Bees ahead of a trip to Dean Brennan’s old club Hemel Hempstead Town in a game which is re-named the Spencer McCall Trophy, in memory of a player who passed away at a young age having played under the gaffer whilst managing the Tudors.

Team: First Half: Evans, Collinge, Tavares, Senior, Hartigan, High, Brunt, Glover, Kanu, Browne, Galvin,

Second half: Rye, Kensdale, Crichlow, Shelton, Matyar, Osadebe, Matesko, Slaw, Hawkins, trialist x 2

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