Bees get the better of local rivals
Another Tuesday night and yet more midweek football, another game that I previously couldn’t make on it’s original date so rude not to take up the offer this time around.
The Hive and Barnet FC was the destination with Gareth Spinks for a local derby with Boreham Wood, the 4th meeting between the two sides this year, Wood on top in both cup games and 0-0 draw back in the New Year.
Very slowly things appear to be coming together again for Dean Brennan’s side after a turbulent few months but we’ve all been here a few times before in Bees colours so we tread carefully and whisper it quietly.
Once again Luke Garrard’s Wood have been impressive this season culminating in a superb run in the FA Cup since knocking the Bees out back in October and are nicely placed for a play-off spot this time around, not the easiest side to watch but it’s affective you can’t deny that.
It was going to be interesting to see how Brennan set up, back in January it was to nullify Wood and it worked but for supporters watching the game it was a ‘worse than paint dry’ moment.
That was how I saw it as I go to watch games wherever to be entertained, that day I was wasn’t, but they’re still unbeaten at home so a very good point I guess and derbies aren’t always great games at times, resolute defending from us and a clean sheet, take the positives.
With fewer changes to the starting eleven in the last few weeks, consistency has returned a little to the Bees side, only one change from the previous Tuesday in skipper Jamie Turley replacing the injured Harry Taylor.
There was a slight change to formation for the home side too, Reece Grego-Cox occupying a more right sided role with Ephron Mason-Clark in behind Adam Marriott and the back four containing four centre-halves.
The start was certainly bright from the home side and no surprise they were in an early lead, Mason-Clark taking advantage of a defensive error and managing to squeeze the ball home from the acutest of angles.
Grego-Cox was next to try his luck a couple of minutes later but his shot was deflected wide of the target and with the Bees completely in the ascendancy they should have been two goals to the good.
Marriott was given acres of space outside the box and his low drive was parried out by Wood keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond straight to the feet of Mason-Clark who astounded all in the stadium by firing into the side netting when it seemed easier to score.
Aston Oxborough’s first big moment came on 18 minutes, the Bees backline caught square but the big keeper spread himself well to deny Josh Rees an equalising goal.
Wood did come good as the half headed towards the interval as they went in search of the leveller, three good chances in stoppage time the final chance saw Oxborough produce a stunning fingertip save to keep his side in front at the break.
Barnet came out the stronger of the two sides in the second half but the first chance fell to the visitors and another stunning moment from Oxborough, tipping Jacob Mendy’s header onto the crossbar and over.
Wood were still finding to hard to get any momentum going and the chances were still falling to the home side, Grego-Cox with a couple of half chances and Ryan De Havilland’s set pieces causing havoc in the visitors box.
The Bees did have the ball in the back of the net again, Sam Woods’ high up and under did come down in the back of the net but the referee blew up of course for a foul on Ashby-Hammond despite it looking more like his own player he went into.
Both Turley and Grego-Cox had good chances to extend the home side’s lead but couldn’t hit the target, Wood growing more leggy as the game went on. Oxborough was at it again a minute from full time tipping Mike Evans’ header over the bar whilst a break from Mason-Clark and Reiss Greenidge saw the latter steaming forward in stoppage time only to be denied a goal from a last ditch challenge as the Bees took the three points in a thoroughly deserved performance.
The fourth time of asking this season and finally a win over Boreham Wood! Playing them at their own game they didn’t like and it did spill over a little between the players at the end of the game, but the win certainly showed the Bees can compete when almost everyone is available.
Every player stood out as having completed a shift and maybe it’s a little unfair to single out a few for praise, but I’m going to anyway! Oxborough was absolutely immense, those saves were top drawer, worldies, any one of those go in and we have a game on our hands. He has had his critics over the past few weeks, quite rightly so but this was back up there with how he was playing when he came into the side earlier this season.
De Havilland is impressing me the more he plays and gets up to speed with the game. I like him, it was hard to understand why he was here in January and then loaned out a few times, but when it was explained to me it all made sense and in all honesty he’s in the team on merit but a few months ahead.
I love his set pieces, they are bang on the money for me and he’s going to be a huge asset next season from the off, he has the legs the team need, his tracking back is spot on and I’m a big Sam Skeffington fan, this one I think will be even better.
Wood as mentioned did look very leggy, not the biggest of National League squad’s and the constant run of games looks to be catching up with them. They were a very outside chance for the title with so many games in hand but still well set for a play-off place.
Great to see so many faces I interact with on Twitter and met for the first time alongside the usual suspects, have to mention the atmosphere which was the best I’ve heard it for a long time bit of credit to Dan Martin (he’ll thank me for getting a mention!) to get the drum going, bit more of this please as the season winds down.
Plenty of positives for a change, my Facebook memories keep dragging up the streamed games I watched for a majority of last season as we all did, that seems a lifetime ago almost, but what is it we say now, oh yeah
#TrustTheProcess