MATCH REPORT | BARNET FC 0-0 MK DONS

Despite both sides hitting the woodwork, The Bees and MK Dons were made to settle for a goalless draw in Barnet’s penultimate pre-season friendly ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The Bees’ first chance fell inside two minutes of kick-off when a free-kick just inside the MK Dons’ half, taken by Kane Smith, soared towards goal and came bouncing off the crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Nnamdi Ofoborh played the ball into the feet of Tom Knowles who shot confidently from outside the area, but the midfielder’s effort was just off target.

As we approached the half-way point of the first-half, the score remained goalless. Bright Siaw did well to win the ball back high up the pitch and send it into the danger area. Charlie Lakin was running onto it, but Craig MacGillivray was there for the visitors.

MK Dons then went straight up the other end of the pitch and came close when Ben Wiles’ effort hit the crossbar.

Our number 33 yet again got himself into a position to send a cross into the danger area, but there was no one there to make the connection and send the ball into the back of the net.

The chances kept falling for Barnet and as the 30-minute mark loomed, Smith whipped in a fiesty free-kick from out on the left-hand side. Craig Farquhar got the final touch, but couldn’t poke it past the MK Dons’ shot-stopper.

Tom Knowles did well with the ball in the final third a few minutes later, before choosing to switch it to Jack Maskell. Our number nine turned to shoot, but his effort was straight at the MK Dons’ shot-stopper.

With ten minutes to go before the break, Lakin charged through the midfield and played the ball into the path of Oisin Gallagher, but the Irishman couldn’t pick his spot and sent the ball straight at MacGillivray.

Another chance involving Lakin saw Smith pass the ball to our number eight, before a reverse action involving Gallagher that allowed the experienced midfielder time and space to send an effort curling towards goal, only it for it to smash the crossbar.

The first real test for Matthew Cox came on the stroke of half-time following an MK Dons’ free-kick, but our newest addition made himself big and denied the opportunity that fell for the visitors.

Half-time: Barnet FC 0-0 MK Dons

A half-time switch in between the sticks for the Bees saw Cox make way for Taye Ashby-Hammond and our number one was called into action shortly after the restart, getting his body in the way of an effort from close-range.

An early second-half substitution saw Kabongo Tshimanga replace Gallagher on 52 minutes.

Ashby-Hammond was called into action once again on the hour mark, clawing away an acrobatic effort from Sam Nombe, before strongly claiming the ball again from close-range.

Dean Brennan made a triple change on 66 minutes. Myles Kenlock, Adam Senior and Danny Collinge came on in place of Siaw, Farquhar and Romoney Crichlow.

Our first chance of the second-half saw the ball played into Maskell and our number nine tried to hook the ball over MacGillivray, but the visiting keeper rose to claim.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing took aim from distance as the visitors looked to break the deadlock, but the Bees were let off as the ball glided just off target as the game approached the final quarter.

With seconds to go, the visitors hit the underside of the bar in their final effort of the game, before the referee signalled full-time.

Full-time: Barnet FC 0-0 MK Dons

Line-up: Cox (Ashby-Hammond, 45’), Smith, Farquhar (Senior, 66’), Williams, Crichlow (Collinge, 66’), Lakin, Ofoborh, Gallagher (Tshimanga, 52’), Siaw (Kenlock, 66’), Maskell, Knowles