Bees battle hard for a point
A new dawn, a new era. We’ve been here before haven’t we? Well yes, quite often as it seems but it’s a prayer we’re all praying goes the distance this time as far as Barnet FC are concerned.
Simon Bassey and Dave Anderson are the 5th level of incumbents of the Bees dugout this season, shades of just a few years ago where we went through managers like a hot knife in butter and relegated from the Football League. This season would have suffered the same fate without the intervention of null and void for Step 2, a lucky escape not a deserved one.
The Bees headed to Maidenhead to face a side having a little wobble of form currently but under Alan Devonshire they have fully taken advantage of last season’s escape from the drop on PPG (points per game), the same method allowing Barnet into the play-offs.
Despite just a couple of days with the squad, Bassey opted for a couple of tweaks to the starting line up and the bench set up, debuts for on loan pair Sam Beard and Sam Skeffington while centre half Themis Kefalas lined up just in front of the back four but no place for Antonis Vasiliou who impressed on Easter Monday at Wealdstone.
Both sides started bright, intentions to knock the ball around confidently and Barnet which can’t be said too often this season looked a little more composed and job happy, players knowing what they should be doing.
Despite this though there were very few chances created by either side, the Bees with a flurry of early corners but to no avail and the hosts unable to pick a way through what is commonly a porous Bees defence.
The first real big chance of the game didn’t come until just after the half hour mark, Barnet switched off for the only time in the first period from a quick throw in, Danilo Orsi-Dadomo was through on goal but Aymen Azaze’s positioning was spot on to deny the on-rushing forward.
Neither side managed to create anything of note before half-time and the sides went in level, the Bees equal to everything the hosts tried to do and not often have the visitors this season been all square at the interval.
The second half was a bit more of a scrappier affair at times, Maidenhead did have the ball in the net on the hour but a header from Orsi-Dadomo was ruled out for offside. The visitors were containing the hosts as well as they did in the first half and whilst it looked as if one goal would win it if either side could score the Bees had a glorious opportunity three minutes from time, Ephron Mason-Clark’s perfect through ball set JJ Hooper away and whilst we believe he should have scored credit must be applied to the Magpies keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond for his positioning to deny the Bees an away win.
The hosts peppered the Bees goal for the remaining minutes of the game but as per the 88 minutes before the defence stood firm and resolute and the Bees picked up a point and a first clean sheet since December 5th.
A good start for Messrs Bassey and Anderson, a solid point and probably the best defensive performance for nearly four months. Solid debuts from Beard and Skeffington, the former competitive in the tackle and despite a first half booking then proceeded to defend sensibly unlike some ill-discipline we’ve seen this season.
The role that Kefalas undertook shouldn’t be under-estimated, good protection in an unfamiliar role whilst the confidence of Matt Preston and Liam Daly behind him managing to head or block almost all coming their way is a good foundation to begin upon.
Mason-Clark I think put more balls in the box or at least attempted more crosses than we’ve seen all season, there just needs to be more of a presence up front and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another loan or short term signing to come in with a view to next season, either from an under 23 side or the National League South.
With a full week of training to come before Aldershot visit The Hive more work will no doubt follow to improve on Saturday’s draw, the standard has been set from day one. Ben Richards-Everton will be available after his suspension and with a week and a half rest Antony Wordsworth and Courtney Baker-Richardson should have recovered from injury if not deemed too serious from Monday’s defeat.
Ah, it makes a nice change not to blog about a defeat but at least if we had lost yesterday it didn’t look like it was going to be a thumping and that’s something none of us have said for a long while……..