MATCH REPORT | BARNET FC 1 (5) – 1 (4) BRIGHTON U21S

A second-half strike from Callum Stead cancelled out a Joshua Robertson goal late in the first-half to give each side a point in the Vertu Trophy, with the Bees being successful in the shoot-out and taking the extra point.

Dean Brennan made nine changes to the eleven that started the game away at Boundary Park, with Bournemouth loanee Ben Winterburn getting another start and Ollie Kensdale returning to the side.

There were also places on the bench for youngsters Jack Blower and Rohat Matyar.

The early stages of the game didn’t present many chances for either side, but Brighton dominated possession in the opening exchanges.

The first Bees’ chance of the first-half fell just after ten minutes on the clock, with Anthony Hartigan sending in a free-kick, which met the head of Dennis Adeniran, but his headed effort was over the bar.

Dean Brennan’s side had a bright spell midway through half, with Winterburn rising high to send a header goalwards, but it was comfortable for McGill in the Brighton net.

The best chance of the half for the hosts fell with minutes to go before the break. Stead laid the ball off to Adeniran who found himself positioned just inside the area, but his shot was blocked by a blue and white shirt and out for a corner.

The visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Joshua Robertson, with the Bees having work to do in the second 45.

Half-time: Barnet FC 0-1 Brighton U21s

Half-time changes from Dean Brennan saw Oli Hawkins and Danny Collinge replace Anthony Hartigan and Adam Senior.

Nehemiah Oriola let fly from outside the area for the young Seagulls and forced Evans to tip the effort over for a Brighton corner early on in the second period of the tie.

The Bees started to put pressure on the visitors, with Winterburn feeding the ball into Emmanuel Osadebe, who shot from a tight angle into the hands of Brighton substitute goalkeeper Nils Ramming.

The inviting press paid off when Stead struck before the hour mark. Winterburn played the ball into our number ten who calmly slotted home for the equalizer and his first goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, Scott High hunted down the Brighton goal, but there were enough blue and white shirts in the box to nick the ball from his feet.

The Bees looked to take the lead when Adeniran flashed the ball across goal, with Stead getting a toe to it, but Ramming did incredibly well to get hold of the ball before it could be poked home.

Winterburn was in on the action again with an effort from distance, but the ball agonisingly ricocheted off the cross bar.

A late roll of the dice for the Bees saw Ryan Glover and Nnamdi Ofoborh enter the pitch in place of Romoney Crichlow and Scott High.

The fourth official showed five additional minutes on his board at the end of the second-half, with Owen Evans making an excellent save from point blank range to deny Sean Keogh from close-range, sending the tie to a penalty shoot-out, with an extra point up for grabs.

Full-time: Barnet FC 1-1 Brighton U21s

Adeniran stepped up first to dispatch his penalty, with Joe Knight’s effort being saved by Evans.

Both Oli Hawkins and Kofi Shaw found the back of the net, before Glover struck an excellent spot-kick and Sean Keogh slotted the ball past Evans.

Winterburn then had his effort saved and Tyler Silsby struck to send us to sudden death.

Galvin found the back of the net for our fifth penalty, with young Seagulls’ captain Freddie Simmonds sending his spot-kick over the bar and giving the Bees the extra point on the night.

Full-time after penalties: Barnet FC 1(5)-1 (4) Brighton U21s

Line-up: Evans, Galvin, Senior (Colllinge, 45’), Osadebe, High (Ofoborh, 89’), Stead, Winterburn, Hartigan (Hawkins, 45’), Kensdale, Crichlow (Glover, 89’), Adeniran

Goals: Stead (58’)

Attendance: 433, with 93 visitors