Bees four star show

Nick Sandamas sees Barnet beat local rivals Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy

View across the pitch at The Hive — Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Barnet 4 Leyton Orient 2

Barnet confirmed top spot and a guaranteed home tie in the knockout stages of the Jersey Mike’s EFL Trophy following a resounding victory over neighbours Leyton Orient in their final group game in Southern Group F yesterday.

Dean Brennan made ten changes from last weekend’s FA Cup success over Tranmere Rovers with only Jack Maskell keeping his place in the starting eleven.

Saturday’s goalscorer Nnamdi Ofoborh was captain for the night and there were also rare starts for goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond and midfielder Isiah Noel-Williams, alongside first team chances for youngsters Bright Siaw and Arron Liwala.

Richie Wellens’s side, who needed a miracle to progress into the knockout stage, made nine changes and had former Bees’ loan man from last season Phil Chinedu on the bench.

And, despite a bright start by the Bees, it was the O’s who looked the more threatening.

In the 14th minute, Myles Kenlock gave away a free kick just on the edge of the area and the kick was blocked twice before it came to Cristian Pascaluta who could only blast over.

A second sight of goal fell the East Londoners’ way five minutes later but again the ball flew over the bar, this time from Tony Springett.

Maskell did create an opportunity for himself soon after but, from a difficult angle, the ball ended up behind the goal. Then an even better effort minutes later could only find the gloves of keeper Noah Phillips.

Just short of the half hour mark, a run and cross by Joe Morris was headed towards goal by Dane Scarlett but luckily into Ashby-Hammond’s hands.

A few minutes after that, it was the turn of the Bees to have a foray into the O’s box.

Damola Ajayi made a great run, and his cross found Tom Knowles but his attempted curler hit the base of the woodwork and was cleared away.

Then on 33 minutes came the breakthrough and it was the Bees who drew first blood. A magnificent long kick by Ashby-Hammond was missed by everyone except Maskell who ran and slotted the ball low into the net for the striker’s second goal for the club since his summer move from Darlington.

Two minutes from the interval, the O’s levelled when a fine low cross by Pasculata ended up at the feet of unmarked Morris who was waiting at the far post to score.

However, the Bees went back in front in first half stoppage time when good play between Noel-Williams and Ofoborh found Kane Smith 25 yards from goal, and he took aim before producing a piledriver to beat Phillips diving at his near post to make it two in two for the right back.

The second half began with an early chance for the O’s but Scarlett could only flight the ball over the bar.

As the game drifted towards the hour mark, the Bees opened up a two goal buffer. Smith with the cross and although Maskell got a touch, the ball went in off Springett for an own goal.

Then five minutes later, the Bees grabbed a fourth when Siaw’s low right foot curler found the bottom corner of the net.

With 20 minutes to go and victory assured, Jake Reeves was given a run out in place of Maskell and soon after that Ajayi came close to a fifth goal but Phillips got down to save.

Then, Jaze Kabia tested Ashby-Hammond with a fierce strike but the keeper saved well.

Youth player Mitchell Issott then came on with eight minutes left for his first ever taste of Bees first team action.

Five minutes from the end of normal time, the O’s had the last word with the final goal of the night.

Kabia beat the offside trap to set up Scarlett for an easy finish.

We now await the draw for the round of 32 which will see the Bees hosting a side who finished second in one of the other seven southern groups.

Next up at The Hive, the Barnet Youth team face AFC Sudbury in the FA Youth Cup next Wednesday providing a chance to see the players of the future.

Team: Ashby-Hammond, Liwala (Crichlow 83) Williams, Smith (Senior 75), Kenlock, Siaw (Issott 83) Ofoborh, Knowles, Noel-Williams, Maskell (Reeves 70) Ajayi

Subs not used: Haramlambous, Lakin, Matyar

Attendance 770 (210 away fans)

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