Smith stunner sets up Bees cup victory

Nick Sandmas sees Barnet FC beat Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup first round

The FA Cup on display at Wembley Stadium with seating in the background — Carlos yo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Goals in the final ten minutes plus stoppage time by substitutes Kane Smith, Nnamdi Ofoborh and Damola Ajayi booked Barnet’s place in Monday’s FA Cup second round draw.

The Bees are through to round two for the first time in three seasons following victory over their fellow League Two side Tranmere Rovers, the win also maintaining their perfect record against these opponents in just their fourth meeting.

Dean Brennan named a strong line up for this cup tie with top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga the only player missing through injury (more on that later). Jack Maskell took his place in one of three changes from last weekend’s frustrating draw against Crewe Alexandra, and he was joined from the start by Jake Reeves and Idris Kanu who returned following a one match suspension.

For the Merseysiders, two players on their subs bench, Courtney Baker Richardson and Ryan Watson, were familiar to Bees’ fans and starting was Tom Ince (whose Dad is, of course, former England star Paul Ince).

An early opportunity on goal fell to the Bees in the second minute when a fine move saw Kanu and Maskell combine to set up Adam Senior for a shot at goal but unfortunately he couldn’t keep the ball down.

Then, soon after, Charlie Lakin found Maskell in space in the area but he got his feet all tangled up and keeper Luke McGee able to gather the ball safely.

Kanu then curled a shot wide following a Lakin corner with a quarter of an hour gone.

Rovers created very little and it was no surprise when, on the half hour mark, the Bees had another opportunity as left back Romany Crichlow’s fierce left-footed drive was cleared off the line by Olly Scott.

For all the home side’s domination, though, it remained goalless at half time.

After the interval, Rovers did start to get forward with a hat trick of chances all created in the opening 15 minutes.

First, Scott’s attempted curler from a free kick went past the post, then Dylan Jones fired over when in acres of space and finally Charlie Whitaker brought a good save out of Matt Cox.

Rovers made a triple substitution just past the hour mark and within minutes had their best chance came to take the lead when Whitaker’s shot from Ince’s cut back saw Cox get a hand to the ball to push it on to the to the post.

This would prove to be a vital save as the gap entered the final 25 minutes.

The Bees made a triple change of their own on 68 minutes with Kane Smith, Tom Knowles and Damola Ajayi coming on in place of Reeves, Maskell and Crichlow as they sought to open the scoring.

And, on 80 minutes, they did just that with an absolute beauty from Smith to finally break the deadlock and what a goal it was.

A short corner between Knowles and Brendon Comley was crossed into the far post to Smith who fired the ball into the net past a startled McGee. What a way to open your Bees account.

Knowles could have wrapped it up soon after but he could only drag his shot wide of the far post.

But it didn’t matter as, bang on 90 minutes, birthday boy Ofoborh latched onto an inch perfect pass from Ajayi for a free run into the area and, with only McGee to beat, slotted the ball into the net for his first strike of the season and also his first since last February.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ajayi made it a super three with a first time shot into the net for his first ever competitive goal to complete what in the end was a convincing victory for Barnet.

Three late strikes, a first home clean sheet of the season and a place in the second round of the FA Cup. A perfect afternoon for the Bees but of more concern was the news that top marksman Tshimanga may be sidelined for three months. News which, if accurate, will be a body blow for the team and the fans in their bid for promotion.

The cup action continues this coming Tuesday when Barnet host League One strugglers Leyton Orient in the final group game of the EFL Trophy.

A point or more will secure the men in black and amber top spot, and a home tie in the round of 32.

Team: Cox, Senior (Liwala 90+2) Collinge, Tavares, Crichlow (Smith 68) Comley, Gallagher, Reeves (Knowles 68) Lakin (Ofoborh 82) Maskell (Ajayi 68) Kanu

Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Williams, Kenlock, Noel-Williams

Attendance 1516 (361 away fans)

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