MATCH REPORT | BEES TAKE HOME SPENCER MCCALL INVITATIONAL TROPHY

A goal in each half from the Bees saw Dean Brennan’s side overcome Hemel Hempstead 2-1 to take home the Spencer McCall Invitational Trophy.

Every year, this fixture in the pre-season calendar means more than just the football that’s played on the pitch; it’s an opportunity for two clubs to come together as one to celebrate the life of someone we lost way too soon five years ago, an extremely talented young footballer and more than that, just a down to earth human being.

The Bees’ first shot on goal came inside ten minutes of kick-off. Aaron Liwala worked the ball well down the right-hand side, before aiming at goal from a tight angle, but it was into the hands of Michael Johnson.

Hemel took the lead with just over 15 minutes on the clock, with captain Charlie Rowan heading home from a set piece taken from out on the right-hand side.

Minutes later, Tom Knowles stepped up at the other end of the pitch outside the area, but his free-kick was comfortable for the gloves of Johnson.

Midway through the first-half, miscommunication at the back for the hosts saw the Hemel shot-stopper come out of his box, which Jack Maskell took advantage of, curling the ball beautifully into an empty net to bring Barnet back level.

Bright Siaw used his pace to work the ball down the left well on numerous occasions and was fouled in the box twice, but both penalty shouts were quickly waved away by the referee.

Half-time: Hemel Hempstead 1-1 Barnet FC

The Bees started the second-half brightly, progressing the ball into the Hemel box on plenty of occasions, but red shirts were always there to make important blocks and deny the Bees an opportunity to take the lead early in the second 45.

Zac Williams shot from distance as the clock struck an hour and it stung the hands of Hemel’s trialist keeper as Barnet looked for goal number two.

With almost 15 minutes to go, a Hemel trialist took aim from the edge of the box and it was only inches wide of Taye Ashby-Hammond’s net, with the new Barnet shot-stopper doing well to cover his post and see the ball out for a goal-kick.

As the game progressed, Barnet continued to search for a second. Kane Smith threaded the ball through to Adam Senior who was arriving in the box, but his shot on target was parried out for a corner.

The late surge continued and this time it was Charlie Lakin who pulled the ball back from the byline into the path of Kabongo Tshimanga and our number 20 unleashed a powerful effort, but saw it frustratingly ricochet off a Hemel body and out for another Bees’ corner.

The ball felly kindly to Senior in the box with five minutes to go, but the full-back’s effort was just over the bar.

Former Tudor Isiah Noel-Williams played the ball into the path of Tshimanga to have another go on goal, but Hemel’s trialist keeper rose high to gather the looping ball before it found a way into the back of the net.

Just as full-time looked imminent, Noel-Williams put the ball on a plate for Trialist D who poked it home to see the Bees win the game and continue their unbeaten pre-season record.

Full-time: Hemel Hempstead 1-2 Barnet FC

First-half XI: Trialist GK, Liwala, Trialist, Richards, Matejko, Trialist, Talwar, Siaw, Knowles, Trialist, Maskell

Second-half XI: Ashby-Hammond, Senior, Tavares, Williams, Smith, Comley, Trialist, Kanu, Noel-Williams, Lakin, Tshimanga