MATCH REPORT | TRANMERE ROVERS 0-2 BARNET FC

First-half goals from Lee Ndlovu and Adam Senior saw the Bees record a well-deserved win on the road against Tranmere Rovers, in the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides.

Dean Brennan made just one change to the side that beat Accrington Stanley 2-0 at home last time out in the league, with Nik Tavares’ name appearing on the team sheet following his worrying substitution at the Hive last weekend. 

Collinge had the ball in the side netting inside five minutes, following an Anthony Hartigan Corner in Barnet’s first chance of the game.

Shorty after there were huge shouts from the home fans for a handball in the box, but referee Richard Ely waved away any shouts.

Tranmere had the chance to take the lead in the tie through Jayden Joseph, who found himself through on goal, but he struck his effort wide of the left post.

Just after the 15 minute mark, Ryan Glover worked the ball well into the area and glanced the ball across goal. Idris Kanu then collected it inside the area, but his follow-up effort was off target.

Another chance fell for Collinge as the first-half progressed, with Hartigan sending in a superb delivery, but his header wide, despite being unmarked in the box.

The Bees took the lead on 26 minutes through Lee Ndlovu. Hartigan threaded a lovely ball through to our number nine, who kept himself composed as he slotted the ball past Joe Murphy to give us the advantage.

Our number four had another headed effort in the six-yard box as half-time loomed, but the defender couldn’t direct his header on target. 

Our lead was doubled before the break thanks to the combination of Collinge and Adam Senior. The former delivered the ball into the area from out on the right-hand side and the latter was unmarked in the box to find the back of the net, looping the ball past Murphy with a headed effort for our second.

Half-time: Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Barnet FC

Cieran Slicker entered the referee’s book minutes after the restart and the hosts came out the blocks, putting pressure on the Bees’ defence early on. 

Collinge also entered the referee’s book early in the second-half following an altercation.

The bees should’ve had a third mid-way through the second 45. Romoney Crichlow did extremely well to keep a Hartigan free-kick alive and put the ball on a plate for Senior, but his header was at the floor and into the arms of Murphy who couldn’t keep hold of it and our number five headed the ball over the bar on his second successive attempt. 

Crichlow made way for Ryan Galvin in our first change of the afternoon on 69 minutes.

The second-half progressed and Tranmere continued to find a goal, but Collinge especially did well to keep the hosts’ star player, Omari Patrick, quiet.

Brennan made a double change with less than ten minutes on the clock, bringing on Mark Shelton and Oli Hawkins in place of goalscorer Ndlovu and Callum Stead.

Our number 12 was shown a yellow card after only a minute on the pitch for a foul.

Shelton struck an effort goalward and forced Murphy to tip his effort over the bar as the Bees continued to show desire and character until the final whistle.

Idris Kanu looked to make it three in added time, with only the Rovers’ shot-stopper to beat, but he frustratingly curled his effort inches wide of the right post. 

A late switch saw Emmanuel Osadebe come in place of Kanu to see the game out.

The referee’s whistle went and chaos following the full-time whistle saw Slicker shown a straight red. 

Victory for the Bees sees the amber and black outfit make it five on the road unbeaten going into next wekend’s encounter with Notts County on home soil.

Full-time: Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Barnet FC 

Line-up: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Ndlovu (Hawkins, 81’), Stead (Shelton, 81’), Kanu (Osadebe, 90+3’), Glover, Hartigan, Crichlow (Galvin, 69’), Tavares, Ofoborh 

Goals: Ndlovu (26’), Senior (40’)

COYB