Barnet open with three points

Nick Sandamas sees the Bees kick off their League Two campaign with a win over Salford City at The Hive

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)

Promotion favourites Barnet opened their League Two campaign in style with victory over another side expected to challenge. The Bees put three past Salford City on a balmy summer’s afternoon at The Hive with two debutants on the scoresheet.

Dean Brennan’s made just a single change from their Carabao Cup loss to Cambridge United last time out with Kane Smith coming into the side in place of Myles Kenlock (who was on the bench).

In addition, the Bees also started with four of their summer signings making their league debuts – Brentford loanee keeper Matthew Cox, along with midfielders Tom Knowles, Oisin Gallagher and Charlie Lakin.

In just the fourth minute of play, the Bees thought they had the lead when Knowles had the ball in the net but Kabongo Tshimanga was flagged offside in the build up following a discussion between referee and linesman.

The Bees didn’t let this deter them as, on 10 minutes, a clearance by Cox fell to the feet of Lincoln City loanee Gallagher who found Will Norris in the Ammies’ goal equal to the effort.

Next to try his luck was last season’s player of the moment, Nnamdi Ofoborh, who tried a curler which sailed just over the bar.

Then, a moment of inspiration on 24 minutes produced the opener when Tshimanga (on the right side of the area) saw the ball deflected towards the six yard box for Gallagher to score a debut goal beyond the reach of a defender and Norris.

The Ammies had no answer as the Bees continued to pour forward in search of more goals.

First Danny Collinge saw Norris get fingertips to take the shot over the bar then, a minute later, a cross by Idris Kanu found Smith at the back stick but the number 18 could only float his header over the bar.

Then, with three minutes left till half time, an error by Norris allowed the hosts to double their lead.

His attempted ball forward was pounced on by Lakin and the ex-Walsall man took aim before shooting low into the net for his debut goal.

Both sides went with the same eleven for the start of the second half but, come the hour mark, the Ammies made a couple of changes to try to get back into the contest. However, it was the Bees who came closer to scoring next, with Tom Knowles’s effort hacked off the line.

Then, on 64 minutes, the Ammies finally produced a shot on target with Cox getting down well to turn behind Kelly N’Mai’s shot and, minutes later, Knowles was on the goal line to clear from former Bees centre half Ade Oluwo’s towering header from a corner.

Myles Kenlock came on soon after to beef up the defence with Knowles making way and later Brendon Comley and Will Wright joined the action for their debuts.

The Bees confirmed the win with their third goal on 87 minutes – when Ofoborh’s run and pass to his right found Tshimanga who shot low into the net first time beneath the body of Norris.

The only blot on their perfect afternoon was the goal they conceded right on 90 minutes, when Oluwo got on the end of Joe Powell’s free kick to head the ball into the net.

And the Ammies even had a chance of a second goal but luckily Kyrell Malcolm’s shot kissed the outside of the post.

So, all in all, the best that Dean Brennan could have wished for (apart from the goal conceded, which he made clear in his post match assessment).

The Bees are back in action at The Hive on Tuesday when they take on the Arsenal U21 side in their opening EFL Trophy group game.

Their next league game sees them travel to Shropshire to take on Shrewsbury Town next Saturday.

Team: Cox, Collinge, Tavares, Senior, Smith, Ofoborh, Knowles (Kenlock 67) Lakin, Gallagher (Wright 82), Kanu (Comley 77), Tshimanga

Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Williams, Siaw, Matyar

Attendance 2230 (255 away fans)

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