Ten man Bees gain three valuable points
A trip south to Weymouth awaited the Bees on Bank Holiday Monday as they looked to put in a better performance than the weekend defeat to Dagenham at The Hive where they were comprehensively outplayed.
Simon Bassey rung the changes to his starting line-up, conscious of those who aren’t long returned from injury and those who haven’t got 90 minutes in them which he alluded to post match on Saturday.
That meant a return to the starting line-up for Ben Nugent, Tomi Adeloye, Sam Skeffington and Antony Wordsworth whilst Matt Preston and Michael Petrasso dropped to the bench, Sam Beard out through injury and Liam Daly missing altogether for the second game running. With Beard out Alex McQueen slotted into the left back role, one of the problem positions all season.
On a blustery afternoon both sides struggled to put together a decent set of passes in a game that was being played for not much more than pride, one of the few times Barnet were looking to complete the double over opponents this season.
Indeed there was very little to shout about for the first twenty minutes, Barnet set up nicely and the hosts struggling to break them down. The Bees first effort of the game didn’t come until the 22nd minute when Ephron Mason-Clark tested Ethan Ross in the home goal but shot straight at the stopper.
Just a minute later the Bees winger tested Ross once again, this time the fierce shot from Mason-Clark needed to be tipped over the bar as the Bees began to find a little bit of momentum going forward.
And it was the visitors who opened the scoring not long after the half hour mark. A corner from the left was headed back across goal from Nugent for fellow centre half Ben Richards-Everton to prod home for his first goal in Barnet colours.
The Terras should have equalised two minutes after the goal, Calvin Brooks with a great chance but couldn’t find a way past Bees keeper Adam Parkes. The remainder of the game until half time was a scrappy affair, neither side able to create many chances and the home side slightly stunned to be behind.
Weymouth knew they needed to come out for the second half with more intent on breaking down the visitors compact defending, but it was the Bees who nearly increased their lead just four minutes into the second half, Adeloye shooting straight at Ross.
The balance of the game looked like it was going to change in the 54th minute when Wordsworth was sent off for a dangerous challenge, his second red card of the season likely to earn him a four match ban and a potential last appearance in a Bees shirt, lack of fitness and indiscipline might cost him a place in next season’s squad despite a wand of a left foot.
As it was the Bees dug in and kept a really good shape which the home side were struggling to break through, the visitors left to play on the counter attack with the pace of Mason-Clark and Adeloye.
On 68 minutes McQueen saw his free kick tipped over the bar by Ross in one of the rare opportunities the Bees had a chance to score from, but 13 minutes from time Barnet made sure of the points as from a Terra’s corner, Adeloye was set free from inside his own half, sprinted clear and finished with aplomb past Ross for his third goal of the season.
Mason-Clark should have made doubly sure of the points three minutes later after a mazy run but his effort couldn’t beat Ross. Weymouth pushed and probed for a way back into the game but the Bees held firm and a third win in seven for Bassey now sees Barnet five points behind Kings Lynn with six to play.
This was certainly a better performance than against Dagenham but granted Weymouth did not pop the ball around as well as the East Londoners. The energy of Skeffington around the pitch was much needed while Mason-Clark and Adeloye gave the Terras defence no end of problems all afternoon and always looked likely to create something.
Mason-Clark has certainly seen something of a revival under Bassey and looks much more the player who has been told to play, take on defenders and worry players with his pace, that’s his game and not difficult to get him to play it.
Mention again for Themis Kefalas who picked up what is turning into a customary yellow card just before half time, defended sensibly once again for the remainder of the game compared to his midfield colleague who didn’t complete the 90 minutes.
Still six more games to play as we head through May, some tough, some where we could pick up enough points to hit a meagre thirty for the season, at least we have seen some pride return in these past few weeks and whilst I’m enjoying the fact we’re competitive in the most part, like most others I can’t wait for this sorry excuse of a season to end……………………