Bees going through the motions
Managerless Barnet were on their travels at the weekend to face a Yeovil side who had already put four goals past their visitors earlier in the month. With Paul Fairclough having finished his three game stint last weekend, an appointment was expected before the trip to Huish Park but with no news forthcoming Head of Performance Gary Anderson was in the dug-out as caretaker manager.
A few changes to team personnel this time around too, Xander McBurnie replacing the international bound Alexander McQueen whilst Tomi Adeloye, Liam Daly, Matt Preston, and JJ Hooper returned to the starting line-up. There was even a place for the out of favour Ben Nugent on the bench.
The Glovers made all the early running, targeting the Bees left hand side where Themis Kefalas was having to fill in at left back, a right footed centre half. It was no surprise when the hosts took the lead coming from that side of the pitch and as is customary inside the opening ten minutes for the visitors.
Tom Knowles cut in from the right hand side with no challenge and slotted the ball past Aymen Azaze to put the home side in front and Bees fans looking on expecting potentially another high score against.
Barnet were on the backfoot constantly within the game with the Glovers dictating possession and pressing to win it back when the ball was lost. Just past the midway point of the first half Yeovil increased their lead which was no more than they deserved, Charlie Lee who turned down the opportunity to join the Bees two summers ago was the scorer from the edge of the box giving Azaze no chance in the Barnet goal.
Despite a small amount of Bees pressure which resulted in a flurry of corners it was the home side who found the next again on 35 minutes, Josh Neufville netting after the Bees failed to clear the ball once again, Azaze not able to get near the strike and the Glovers with a very comfortable half time lead.
With the home side seemingly well in control the second half pretty much went through the motions although Barnet did net in the 67th minute, Kefalas’ header unable to be kept out by Adam Smith and the ball bounced into the net to reduce the deficit.
Yeovil were content to sit back on their lead with Barnet unable to fashion any more decent chances until the 89th minute when Michael Petrasso fired over after some penalty area pinball, but a fully deserved three points stayed with the home side.
Yet another performance with three goals conceded, that is now ten times in 27 league games this season and the first 45 minutes as Anderson alluded to in his post-match interview cost Barnet any chance of getting something out of the game.
Most players were below par and few offered anything across the game, with no relegation of course little is left to play for and it looked very much like a dead rubber.
Attention now turns to whether The Hive will see a new manager in place before the trip to Solihull on Good Friday, no news yet coming out of the Bees home as I write this and even if it’s not to be a permanent appointment then Anderson needs the help in the dug-out and on the training pitch to at least get the club through to the end of the season.
It is bordering a little on the farcical side of things now especially as we seem to be in the dark a little bit and speculating rather than dealing in facts, I know it has to be the right appointment and if it needs to take longer, get a body in the building to help, there’s plenty willing………………