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Barnet 1-0 Town - Match Report
Wednesday, 13th Jul 2016 21:59

John Akinde’s 68th minute penalty saw Barnet to a 1-0 victory over Town in their second pre-season friendly at The Hive. Blues keeper Dean Gerken had fouled he Bees’ striker after he had seized on an under-hit Tommy Smith backpass.

Boss Mick McCarthy named different sides for each half as he did for the 2-1 win at Shelbourne on Saturday.

Amongst those absent were strikers Daryl Murphy, who only returned to pre-season training yesterday, and David McGoldrick, who has a hip flexor problem.

New signing Adam Webster and left-back Myles Kenlock should be back from their ankle injuries for the Cambridge game on Saturday 23rd July, while Giles Coke ought to be fit for the start of the season having undergone knee surgery at the end of the last campaign.

Town had most of the ball in the early stages but the on shot on goal came in the 10th minute from Barnet frontman Akinde, whose 25 yard strike deflected wide.

From the resultant corner the League Two side should have gone in front but Michael Nelson headed over.

The Bees began to get the upper hand and in the 16th minute left-back Elliott Johnson unleashed a powerful effort from distance which caught Adam McDonnell on the way through and hit the wrong-footed Bartosz Bialkowski’s left post. The loose ball fell to Ryan Watson, who blazed over when he should have scored.

There was another scare for the Blues on 20 when a Christophe Berra slip gifted the ball to Akinde not far outside the Town area.

The Scotland international felled the striker as he sought to make amends for his error and brought him down inches outside the area.

In a competitive game Berra would almost certainly have been shown a red card but as it was a friendly referee Mick Russell was in a more generous mood. Watson’s freekick hit the wall and deflected wide.


Town’s first chance of the game came in the 26th minute when Piotr Malarczyk headed Kevin Bru’s left-wing corner into the sidenetting.

Watson saw a shot deflect wide on 32 and from the flag-kick the home side again went close, Bialkowski getting down well to his left to save Nelson’s header.

The Blues were still to get going with a determined Bees side not having allowed them time on the ball.

Five minutes before the break, Teddy Bishop, again in his narrow right midfield role, won a freekick on the left which Bru sent into the box to Berra, but the centre-half was unable to get a clean contact on the ball, which bounced through to Bees keeper Graham Stack.

Bishop, who up to then had had a quieter half than at Shelbourne, made a strong run through the centre on 43 and fed McDonnell to his left but Stack was out quickly to block his shot.

Just before the whistle, Bishop won another freekick not far outside the area on the left but Bru’s shot hit the wall.

Town were fortunate to go in level at the break with Barnet having been on top and having had two very decent chances to go in front.

The Blues had started positively but the Bees then got on top before Town came back into it in the latter stages as Bishop’s influence grew.

Town’s second-half XI saw Andre Dozzell playing behind lone striker Brett Pitman with James Blanchfield, starting for the senior side for the first time, in a narrow right of midfield role.

On 49 Cole Skuse went down with what looked to be a groin problem but after treatment was OK to continue.

Town looked a better side after the break, passing the ball around confidently with Dozzell at the heart of most of the good work. However, they were unable to create a clear-cut opportunity, a Brett Pitman shot well over aside.

Despite the Blues having been on top the Bees went in front in the 68th minute from the penalty spot.

Smith’s backpass from the left was intercepted by the sharp Akinde, who was sent tumbling by Gerken as the keeper looked to clear. Referee Russell pointed straight to the spot and again might have shown his red card in a regular fixture. Akinde confidently netted the penalty.

The Blues continued where they had left off before the goal, Blanchfield seeing a shot from a tight angle on the left deflect behind, then skipper Luke Chambers headed over from the subsequent corner.

Pitman went close when stretching for a Stewart cross from the left in the 78th minute but saw his effort fly just over the bar.

As the game moved into its final five minutes Stewart sent over a freekick from the right which a Barnet defender just diverted behind ahead of Paul Digby.

The Blues continued to take the game to the home side during the closing minutes but without finding an equaliser, Pitman flicking Blanchfield’s ball into the area on to the roof of the net in injury time.

Despite conceding the only goal of the game during the second period Town were a much better prospect than they had been before the break, although without creating enough chances, while the penalty was the Bees’ only real chance after the restart.

Dozzell ’s performance dictating the play was probably the highlight for the Blues, while Blanchfield also had some impressive moments and Stewart continued his resurgence.

First-half team: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Knudsen, Douglas, Malarczyk, Berra, Bishop, Bru, Sears, McLoughlin, McDonnell.

Second-half team: Gerken, Chambers, Digby, Smith, Robinson, Blanchfield, Skuse, Hyam, Stewart, Pitman, Dozzell. Subs: Morris, Fowler, C Smith, Patterson. Att: 803.


Photo: Action Images



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Azzuromark added 23:13 - Jul 13
Rather see our weaknesses in a friendly, when a defeat costs very little. If we were tonking these teams with the lightweight squad we have, some might be happier. However it would only be papering over the cracks. Then we could be found to be in serious trouble when the season starts.
A couple more poor/abject performances/ results in pre-season will create a nervousness that would hopefully loosen the purse strings....well, I hope 😉
2

lightingblue added 23:14 - Jul 13
Least we can have a sing a long and dance with Olly Murs at Coggeshall. Up the crops
2

kevinocallaghan added 23:47 - Jul 13
Two pre-season friendlies so far , each player getting teo 45 minute sessions under their belts , lets not get over excited . 6th August is when it actually matters and pre seaon will have improved everybody . I'm sure there will be additions too .
Mick has got us 6th and 7th last two seasons, has everyone forgotten how poor we were for years prior to that ?
Where were Fulham , QPR , Forest , Wigan ?
Mick is doing alright on no money and our academy is starting to produce again .
I see better things ahead !!
Preseason friendlies have never determined a season !!
1

airliner added 06:25 - Jul 14
John Akinde , 88 appearances and 54 goals. Would he be a striker we might look at.
3

runaround added 07:31 - Jul 14
Results aren't important in pre season but that's embarrassing! I saw Barnet play AFC Wimbledon last season & they are a poor side
1

Surco72 added 08:11 - Jul 14
When Henshall gave away a penalty in pre season it was the end of the world and MM publicly slated him for it to back up his claim to play Tabb , now a couple of his precious boys have done it not a mention !!
Poor result , poor morale and effort from players knowing they will be selected whatever , poor style ,poor tactics and heading for another dull poor season under MM
6

brian_a_mul added 09:13 - Jul 14
Youngsters all getting game time with experienced players. As we get closer to the first league game the first team will begin to start playing together in the later friendlies.
A few losses in preseason can help sharpen the mind s of the players and remove complacency. It can drive the squad to work harder
2

groundhog added 09:49 - Jul 14
Don't worry, that was just a practice game for our first cup game against lowly opposition.
1

Seasider added 15:49 - Jul 14
Oh dear if Tommy goes on like this he could be dropped
0

karls_dad added 17:19 - Jul 14
And we have that lot from up the road in just a few weeks! think i shall find a cave and hide! what a dismal performance from town, being overun by Barnet?
0

pippaine1 added 18:15 - Jul 14
Lets not get carried away as some times an early defeat is a wake up call so you don't get to carried away by just turning over lower opposition,I have watched John Akinde on several occasions and he has always been the best player on the Field don't know why he is not at a higher level, we will be aright on the night
0

ITFCsince67 added 21:55 - Jul 14
800 fans. Says it all.
0

blueboy1981 added 22:07 - Jul 14
Kirbmeister ....... could it just be the aroma of the Coffee at last ? ........ there will be a few more very shortly.
0

blueboy1981 added 22:09 - Jul 14
MUGS ............... and guess who they are ?
0


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