Nick Sandamas sees the Bees defeat a junior Arsenal side in the EFL Trophy
Barnet 5 Arsenal U21 1
Barnet began their EFL Trophy group campaign with victory over Arsenal U21s at The Hive on Tuesday with Tom Knowles grabbing a treble, with Jack Maskell and Bright Siaw also on the scoresheet in a dominant performance.
The Bees, hoping to continue where they left off against Salford City in League Two on Saturday, gave opportunities to those players who needed minutes under their belts as Dean Brennan made ten changes, Knowles being the only survivor from the win against the Ammies.
The Bees started on the front foot as they pressed the Gunners’ back line from the kick off and, on nine minutes, took the lead when Patrick Matejko laid the ball across to Siaw who drilled his low from the edge of the area beyond the dive of keeper Khari Randon and into the net off the inside of the post.
Siaw was then the provider of a chance minute later when his cross from the right flank found Knowles who (backpedalling) headed over.
Knowles was in the thick of the action again soon after when he got on the end of Zac Williams free kick but the shot hit Gunners defender Demaine Agustien to go out for a corner.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Bees would double their lead and, on 25 minutes did, they did just that when a long flighted kick by keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond was missed by an least three defenders. The eventually ball fell to Maskell in the box and he produced a sweet turn and fired low into the net to give his Bees side a deserved two-goal cushion.
The Gunners then had a little period of pressure and, on 36 minutes and got their reward, when from a corner, the ball came to Archie Stevens whose strong shot from the left hit Knowles on its way into the net.
However the Bees restored their two-goal lead in first half stoppage time with Ashby-Hammond the provider. His long kick found Siaw in acres of space and his low cross found Knowles to blast the ball into the net for a 3-1 lead.
Last Saturday’s goal hero Oisin Gallagher came on for the start of the season half in place of Brandon Gomley and, within minutes, the Bees got near the Gunners area with Will Wright producing a shot which went just past the post.
Ceadach O’Neill had half a sight of goal to get his Gunners side back into it but the shot was deflected behind.
Ashby-Hammond was again the provider for the fourth Bees goal on 56 minutes, his long kick hitting the back of Teshaun Murisa and, with the keeper in no man’s land, the ball was pounced on by Knowles who slotted it calmly into the net.
Ashby-Hammond was called upon on the hour getting down low to push away a Stevens effort.
Then Matejko was the provider for Knowles to score and complete his hat trick in the 69th minute.
His pass to the waiting former Forest Green Rovers saw him thump his shot past Ranson for 4-1.
With the game gone, the Gunners bought on fresh legs and it was they who created the final opportunity of the match when, with seven minutes to play, Andre Harriman-Annous produced a storming run but, despite beating off his marker, his shot hit the post with ball then gathered by Ashby-Hammond to maintain their four goal margin.
An excellent performance by Brennan’s boys especially the younger lads in Aaron Liwala, Siaw and Matejko as they go into Saturday’s game at Shrewsbury full of confidence.
Team: Ashby-Hammond, Liwala (Senior 90) Williams, Kenlock, Farquhar, Knowles (Matyar 87), Matejko, Comley (Gallagher 46), Maskell, Siaw
Subs not used: Cox, Ofoborh, Tshimanga, Kanu.
Attendance 1507 (498 away fans)
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