Nick Sandamas sees leaders Bromley score late to foil ten man Barnet

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 2 Bromley 2

Substitute George Evans scored a dramatic last gasp equaliser with his first touch of the ball to salvage a draw for leaders Bromley against play-off chasing ten man Barnet yesterday, in a match up between good friends Dean Brennan and Andy Woodman in front of a large Good Friday crowd.

After last weekend’s win over promotion chasing Cambridge United, the Bees named an unchanged side meaning that Idris Kanu had to settle for a place on the bench following his return from international duty for Sierra Leone.

A fast start ensued for both sides and, in the eleven minute, a chance came the Ravens’ way when a quick free kick by Marcus Ilfill left Corey Whiteley one-on-one with keeper Cieran Slicker but the custodian did well to parry it away from goal.

However, within a minute, the Ravens struck when a ball back across goal by Mitch Pinnock found former Bee Nicke Kabamba and, shrugging off the attention of former team mate Danny Collinge, his deflected strike hit the back of the net.

Minutes later, the Bees had a great chance to level when Kabongo Tshimanga played a ball across the box to Mark Shelton but his hurried shot forced a good save from Grant Smith in the Ravens’ goal.

Six minutes on from the visitors taking the lead, the Bees levelled when Ryan Glover played the ball to on-loan Phillip Chinedu who took aim before toe poking the ball into the net; a deserved equaliser and his first goal in a Bees shirt.

As the game ebbed, both sides traded chances to re take the lead. First Bees’ top scorer Adam Senior saw his fine header clawed away from goal by Smith, whilst Kabamba also came close but, after rounding Slicker, could only fire into the side netting.

Nnamdi Ofoborh had the final meaningful chance of the first half when Chinedu found the number 28 but his attempted low curler from the edge of the box went just wide and the teams went into the break level pegging.

With only minutes of the second half played, a free kick for the Bees from 25 yards out saw Glover’s shot deflected over for a corner with Smith getting a faint touch to take it over the bar.

Then Tshimanga had a sight of goal with 55 minutes gone as Shelton played a cute pass into him but his close range shot was beaten away for a corner by Smith.

On the hour mark, the Ravens created a rare chance with Damola Ajayi’s run and shot was saved low down by Slicker.

Then, with twenty minutes left, a moment of controversy as the Bees were preparing to take a corner and a scuffle in the box saw Omar Sowunmi go down after an alleged elbow by Danny Collinge.

This was enough for referee David Rock to give out a straight red to the Bees’ centre half, leaving them to play over 20 minutes a man light.

It didn’t seem to affect the men in black and amber because, on 76 minutes, they were awarded a spot kick when a ball across the six yard saw Kyle Cameron push Tshimanga to the floor, enough for Mr Rock to award the Bees the penalty.

Tshimanga dusted himself down to slot home but only just, as Smith came close to getting a hand onto the ball.

With the game heading towards time added time, the Ravens came close but the shot was deflected.

And with 101 minutes now showing on the click, one last throw of the dice by the Ravens produced a piece of magic to salvage a draw.

A long throw was flicked on by Marcus Dinanga and 18-year-old Evans pounced from close range to score his first ever professional goal to send the hoards of Ravens fans at the other end into raptures and break the hearts of the Bees who came so close to a crucial victory.

After this blow to their slim play-off hopes, the Bees have a trek up north to face Fleetwood Town on Easter Monday knowing that victory is paramount.

Team: Slicker, Collinge, Tavares, Senior, Crichlow, Chinedu (Kizzi 81), Shelton, Ofoborh, Stead, Tshimanga (Hawkins 90+3), Glover (Kanu 88)

Subs not used: Evans, Jaiyesimi, Hartigan, Smith.

Attendance: 3903 (1352 away fans)

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