MATCH REPORT | HITCHIN TOWN 0-2 BARNET FC

Bright Siaw’s first-half strike and a late second-half goal made the difference as the Bees overcame Hitchin Town at Top Field to record back-to-back pre-season victories.

The Bees came close with just over five minutes on the clock. Charlie Lakin delivered a free-kick from out on the left and Trialist A connected with it at the back post, but was unable to head home.

Hitchin looked to open the scoring through Rio Deall, but an important block from the backline and the ball came off the number ten and was out for a goal-kick.

More threat came from the host side, with Kye Tearle launching an attack, which resulted in a corner for the hosts, but the orange shirts were able to clear the danger.

Barnet looked to capitalise on some movement in the final third, with the ball delivered into the danger area, but Idris Kanu couldn’t quite get the connection he wanted and the ball and it was into the hands of Tyler McGregor in the Hitchin net.

When the clock struck half-an-hour, a mistake in the Hitchin defence allowed Kabongo Tshimanga to pick the ball up the final third.

The number 20 played it into Lakin on the edge of the box, who set up Trialist A, but a block in the box denied the Bees the opportunity to take the lead.

Shortly after, youngster Aaron Liwala took aim from distance, but it was deflected out for a corner.

The Bees continued to control proceedings during the latter stages of the first-half, with Kanu dancing with the ball at his feet in the Hitchin box, but he was unable to get the shot away.

Kabongo Tshimanga then wanted in on the action, as he went alone down the right-hand side and took aim, but the ball went wide of the target.

Another chance fell for our number 20 when the ball fell to him nicely in the area, but he was unable to keep the ball down and frustratingly sent it over the bar.

The deadlock was broken shortly before half-time and it was Bright Siaw who worked the ball into the box before sending it cleanly past McGregor.

Another chance came for Tshimanga before the half-way stage. Lakin found the forward one-on-one with McGregor and made the decision to go around the Hitchin shot-stopper before shooting, but McGregor was able to gather.

Half-time: Hitchin Town 0-1 Barnet FC

Jack Maskell proved a handful for the Hitchin defence early in the second-half, getting in dangerous positions to search for his first Barnet goal.

With just over an hour gone, Hitchin came close to an equaliser, but the header from close-range was over the bar.

The new Bees’ striker had another shot as the half progressed, taking aim from a tight angle, but the ball came back off McGregor.

Barnet searched for a second goal and Trialist C sent a shot goalwards from the edge of the area, but it was comfortably into the hands of McGregor.

A mistake in the Bees’ backline allowed Hitchin an opportunity to level proceedings, but an important block from Nik Tavares sent the ball out for a corner.

With ten minutes to go, Jack blower and Patejko left the pitch and were replaced by Academy youngsters Aaron Talwar and Noye Richards.

The Bees were awarded a penalty shortly after and Trialist B stepped up, but McGregor was equal to the forward and denied goal number two for Barnet.

Trilaist B found the back of the net minutes later, with Kane Smith putting it on a plate for him to poke home and double the Bees’ advantage.

Full-time: Hitchin Town 0-1 Barnet FC

First-half XI: Ashby-Hammond, Liwala, Senior, Kenlock, Comley, Matar, Trialist, Lakin, Shaw, Tshimanga, Kanu

Second-half XI: Trialist, Collinge, Tavares, Williams, Blower (Talwar), Trialist, Noel-Williams, Matejko (Richards), Maskell, Trialist, Smith