A goal in each half from Pablo Couñago saw a young Town side to a 2-1 victory over Barnet at Underhill. In between the Spaniard's two efforts Barnet got back on terms when Mark Arber headed in from a corner.

The Blues lined-up with only Fabian Wilnis, Martijn Reuser, Pablo Couñago and Richard Naylor from the senior squad. The rest of the side was made up of players from the reserves side.

Town dominated much of the first half but seemed unable to put the ball in the net. Reuser hitting a number of efforts wide, Naylor and Abidallah slammed the ball straight at keeper Lee Harrison and Pablo went close when he hit a shot just over the bar.

At the other end former Town striker Neil Midgley forced a fine save from James Pullen when his shot seemed destined for the corner of the net. Midgley was one of two ex-Town players on the home side, midfielder Stuart Niven used as a sub.

Eventually, in the 32nd minute, a Town goal did come, although it was hardly the prettiest. Nabil Abidallah sent in a corner from the right, Justin Miller went up with a defender but the ball dropped to the ground. Wayne Brown had a perfect opportunity to put the ball in the net but missed it, as did Harrison in the Barnet goal, and Couñago stabbed it into the back of the net for his first goal of pre-season.

Barnet got back on terms five minutes later, also from a corner. Mark Arbor rose at the near post unchallenged and beat Pullen. Barnet rallied after their goal and Yakubu headed weakly to Pullen when he had an ideal opportunity to put his side ahead.

The second half was a duller affair with few chances and a rash of substitutions, particularly from the home side.

The highlight of the half was Pablo's second goal, a neat curled effort from the edge of the area which Harrison got his fingers to but couldn't stop from rippling the top left-hand corner of his net.

James Pullen impressed with a couple of brave diving at the feet saves and Barnet hit a couple of long-range efforts wide. In truth neither keeper was that busy, although Richard Logan went close twice with a header and a shot and Justin Miller hit the post with Harrison beaten.

Pullen, Wilnis (Hogg 46), Richards, Bloomfield, J Miller, Brown, Abidallah (Dickinson 73), Reuser (Beevers 54), Couñago, Naylor (Logan 54) and Westlake.

Photo: Action Images

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