Barnet FC kept their fitness levels in peak condition with a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace at The Hive.
The Bees don’t have a fixture this weekend but they impressed against a Palace side containing youth and experience scoring twice in the opening 30 minutes.
After a host of changes at the break the Bees continued to dominate with Iffy Allen adding a second before Palace pulled one back, Harry Crawford completed the scoring late on.
Barnet had two glorious chances to open the scoring in the opening three minutes but Jon Nurse was denied before Luisma Villa shot inches wide of the post.
The Bees continued to push forward but Kwesi Appiah, who scored two against Edgar Davids’ side for Cambridge United earlier in the season, almost opened the scoring when smashed an effort over the crossbar.
Two minutes later the former U’s loanee threatened again but the Bees responded in sensational fashion as Curtis Weston burst through the Eagles half and smashed the ball into the top corner.
Ten minutes later Barnet had a fantastic opportunity to double their advantage but after out-muscling his man Nurse shot wide.
Palace almost equalised soon after but Aaron Wilbraham, who started last season’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off final, was denied by Nick Jupp who pulled off a phenomenal reaction save.
With 29 minutes played Dani Lopez made it 2-0 heading into the top corner after good work and an even better cross from the lively Keiron Cadogan.
The Bees made nine changes at the break but it didn’t change the flow of the game as they made it 3-0 through Iffy Allen who finished from six-yards after George Sykes did well to send a low cross into the box.
Former loanee Ibra Sekajja also entered play following the break and the Eagles pulled one back through Sullay KaiKai who cut in from the left and smashed the ball low into the corner but victory was sealed late on by Crawford.
FIRST-HALF XI: Jupp; Yiadom, Saville, Acheampong, Brown; Abdulla, Weston, Villa; Nurse, Cadogan; Lopez.
SECOND-HALF XI: Trialist; Vilhete, Acheampong, Casabella, Johnson; Byrne, Trialist, Crawford; Allen, Nurse; Sykes.
