Barnet lost to North Greenford United 3-0, bowing out of the Middlesex County Cup.
Starting with most of the possession, Barnet’s youthful side looked to control the game. North Greenford recorded the first chance of the game after a quick transition gave Harvey Killeen a shot on goal, which Jordan Gillmore comfortably saved.
Despite the away side wrestling a little control back, a Barnet free-kick on the edge of the opposition box gave their goalkeeper his first involvement of the game.
Another Barnet chance followed in the 14th minute after a cross gave Joseph Afful a shot from 6 yards out, forcing a close save by the keeper.
Both keepers were kept busy, as a counter-attack forced a save from the onrushing Gillmore. Afful, who’s on 19 goals in 11 games for the youth side, continued to look threatening, narrowly dragging a shot just wide of the right post from a tight angle.
Barnet couldn’t capitalise first though, with a North Greenford United goal coming in the 24th minute directly from a corner.
The Bees continued to fight back, with a Nuno Costa shot narrowly missing the post.
After a lull in the game, Afful tallied his third and fourth shots of the game, testing the keeper but to no avail.
HT: Barnet 0-1 North Greenford United
Barnet said the second half similarly to the first, with most of the possession, and hit the post in the 54th minute.
Gaining momentum, Barnet continued to create, with a slaloming run from Patrick Matejko earning his side a corner after his shot was blocked The resulting corner saw the ball fumbled by the North Greenford keeper and put in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside.
Seconds after, North Greenford broke away and scored, doubling the lead in the 62nd minute. The away side’s Harvey Killeen made it 3-0 soon after, with a ball over the top giving him a one-on-one that he slotted home.
Connor Smith then substituted on David Barbakadze, a promising academy prospect with an impressive goalscoring record.
The game died down after this, with the home side failing to find a consolation goal.
The full-time whistle then went soon after, with Barnet getting knocked out of the Middlesex County Cup.
FT: Barnet 0-3 North Greenford United
Starting XI: Gillmore, Costa, Grigoriou (Barbakadze 64′), Matejko, Georgiou, Makangu (Udofot-Torres 88′), Portbury, Blower, Breen, Afful, Shobowale
Unused Subs: Lima, Drury, Constable-Woodley
Attendance: 129
