Bees held in friendly

Nick Sandamas sees Barnet FC secure a pre-season draw with Championship Watford

A goal area with a stand behind it at The Hive, home of Barnet FC — The Bees in pre-season action against Watford – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 2 Watford 2

The Bees continued their unbeaten preparations for the upcoming season with an entertaining draw against Championship side Watford at The Hive.

The Bees took to the field with a mixture of familiar faces from last season and some of their new summer signings.

It was the visitors though who had an early chance when a Zavier Messiah-Edwards shot just flicked past the post in the fourth minute.

Another opportunity fell the Hornets’ way six minutes later but Abi Nabizada’s shot from Michael Adu-Poku’s pass came off a defender’s boot and onto the bar.

It took the Bees a while to get near the Hornets’ goal but, on the half hour mark, danger man Kabongo Tshimanga’s shot was blocked by the legs of keeper Alfie Marriott.

Tshimanga had another great chance minutes later to give his side the lead when a misplaced back pass went to the feet of the number 20 but, with only Marriott to beat, he saw the keeper stick out a hand to take the ball behind for a corner.

However, a minute later, the Bees finally beat Marriott to take the lead when Tshimanga found Charlie Lakin in space and he was able to run into the area before rounding Marriott to score.

The lead lasted a mere four minutes; the Hornets levelled when Nik Taveras’s short pass back was pounced on by Messiah-Edwards to score.

The visitors made a number of changes at half time with the Bees also bringing on a few fresh legs on the hour mark (including a trialist) and it was the men in black and amber who retook the lead on 64 minutes when new boy Isiah Noel-Williams got on the end of a low cross to score from close in.

Within a minute, a great run down the right by Hornets’ Jeremy Petris cross picked out the unmarked Othmane Maamma in the six yard box, but his header flew over the bar.

Maamma had another great opportunity to draw his side level but new keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond blocked the striker’s shot.

With 10 minutes left, Bees sub Will Wright tested Daniel Bachmann with a free kick which brought a flying save from the former number 1, which would have made it game over, however the visitors had the last word with the equalising goal with eight minutes left.

Luca Kjerrumgaard’s fantastic diving header from Marc Bola’s cross meant the two sides couldn’t be separated.

The Bees welcome League One side Luton Town this Saturday in what will be another test against a side who only a few seasons ago were playing in the Premier League.

Team: Ashby-Hammond, Senior, Tavares (Wright) Williams, Smith, trialist A (trialist) Comley (Crichlow) Kanu, Lakin, Noel-Williams, Tshimanga

Subs not used: Haralambous, Likala, Matejko, Matyar, Richards, Talwar.

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