For one last time this regular season, the Bees take to the Hive turf to face Gillingham in our penultimate fixture of the 2025/26 campaign.
With two games to go and four points off the play-offs, Dean Brennan knows his side can only control what’s in front of them and get six points from a possible six, with any other possible outcomes out of their hands.
Barnet extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven games after beating promotion-chasing Notts County at Meadow Lane.
It was Kabongo Tshimanga’s third brace in black and amber that helped the Bees to three points, adding goal number 11 and 12 to his tally since his January arrival.
Stead came close to opening the scoring inside a minute of kick-off, but it took over half an hour before our number 20 found the back of the net with a fine flick set up by Ryan Glover.
Celebrations were short lived when the Magpies went up the other end of the pitch and were awarded a penalty when former Bee Lee Ndlovu was fouled in the area. Experienced midfielder Jodi Jones stepped up and slotted his spot-kick past Slicker to level proceedings at the halfway stage.
Tshimanga struck the woodwork early in the second 45, but managed to score the match winner when connecting with a cross from Stead on 70 minutes and sending it past James Belshaw.
The 28-year-old was unfortunate to not grab his first EFL hat-trick as the half continued, however the Bees managed the final stages of the tie as a collective and saw the game out.
Barnet’s last five results:
Notts County 1-2 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 3-2 Barrow A.F.C
Fleetwood Town 2 – 5 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 2-2 Bromley
Barnet FC 1 – 0 Cambridge
Gillingham:
The Gills are one of ten Sky Bet League Two clubs who mathematically have nothing to play for heading into the final two games of the season and are currently sat 18th in the table.
The Kent club have won only one out of their last eleven games, most recently suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of promotion-pushing Grimsby Town.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side had hope when Garath McClearly cancelled out Andy Cook’s opener early in the second-half and were unlucky not to find a second when in the ascendency, but three goals in 11 minutes for the Mariners saw the Gills head home empty handed.
The Kent outfit have however managed to pick up two draws from their last three games away from home, with one of those being a clean sheet at the Peninsula Stadium against Salford City, who are pushing for promotion to League One.
Gillingham’s last five results:
Grimsby Town 4-1 Gillingham
Cheltenham Town 2-1 Gillingham
Salford City 0-0 Gillingham
Gillingham 2-0 Accrington Stanley
Walsall 2-2 Gillingham
In the opposition dugout:
Gareth Ainsworth has now surpassed a year in charge of the Gills and after an 18th-place finish last season, will be hoping he can guide his side higher than that in the final two games of the campaign.
The 52-year-old has branded Barnet one of the ‘surprise teams in the league’ and is aware that the Bees have turned over some big teams and have legs in their side.
Ones to watch:
The Gill’s top goalscorer, Bradley Dack, will be one to watch. Despite not finding the back of the net since late January, the 32-year-old, as Bees’ fans know, is a threat from dead ball situations and his ability to be able to link up the play from defence to attack makes him a key asset to Ainsworth’s side.
Left-back Matt Clark has also been a threat, having scored three and provided a further six assists from the flank. The Hull City academy graduate is an attack-minded full-back who’s ambition and hunger on the pitch has made him a valuable member of the Gills’ squad since his arrival in the summer of 2023.
Last time the sides met:
The points were shared at the Priestfield Stadium in October. Barnet opened the scoring when Stead latched onto the ball following some brilliant footwork around the area from Idris Kanu, before Dack’s stunning free-kick levelled proceedings before the break.
Dack was on hand to clear a Ryan Glover effort off the line, while Cieran Slicker stood strong to deny the midfielder up the other end of the pitch in the first 45.
The second-half saw little action in front of goal for both sides, with Dean Brennan’s reflection being that Barnet didn’t increase their lead when dominating in the first 30 minutes of the game.
COYB