Nick Sandamas sees Barnet beat Tranmere to close in on the play off spots

The main stand at The Hive Stadium, home of Barnet FC — The Hive (Credit – Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Barnet 1 Tranmere Rovers 0

Mark Shelton scored with virtually the last kick of the game to give his Bees side victory over Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday, hoisting them up into eleventh spot in the table just five points shy of the play off spots.

Three changes were made to the side from Saturday’s win over Oldham including one enforced (Joe Kizzi replacing the suspended Nik Taveres) and it was the home side who started the brightest.

An early corner eventually found Nmamdi Ofoborh who shot past the post.

Shelton had an effort on goal minutes later but his shot hit Rovers number eight Sam Finley to go out for a corner.

Then, just past the 25 minute mark, there was a break in play when Rovers skipper Connor Jennings went down following an innocuous looking challenge and, after lengthy treatment, was stretched off the pitch with Joe Ironside coming on.

Rovers Nathan Smith had the first chance on target just past the half hour, his effort from a Finley free kick seeing keeper Ciaran Slicker getting down well to palm the ball away from danger.

Then, soon after, Saturday’s double goalscoring hero Kabongo Tshimanga raced through on goal and he was brought down by Rovers’ keeper Joe Murphy way outside the box and, to the amazement of the home faithful, the striker was booked for simulation.

The second half started with Slicker easily saving from Billy Blacker.

The first Bees changes came just past the hour with Kane Smith and Anthony Hartigan replacing Rhys Browne and Phillip Chinedu, and minutes later Smith was in the thick of the action setting up Idris Kanu whose turn and shot saw Murphy get down low to turn his shot away.

Into the last ten minutes, the Bees were continuing to pile on the pressure in an attempt to break through with Adam Senior and Shelton coming close.

Then, as the game was drifting towards a goalless draw, one last attempt produced the winner.

Kanu crossed the ball into the box, it hit a Rovers’ head and went straight to Shelton whose pinpoint diving header went straight into the net.

It’s now three wins from the last four for the black and amber, who now have lots of confidence going into Saturday’s game at struggling Shrewsbury.

Team: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Kizzi, Chinedu (Smith 62), Glover (Jaiyesimi 80), Shelton, Ofoborh, Browne ( Hartigan 62), Tshimanga ( Hawkins 90+6), Kanu

Subs not used: Evans, Assombalonga, Adeniran

Attendance 1983 (422 away fans)

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