Bees convincingly defeat League Two Wimbledon in final pre-season friendly.
Wimbledon started the game brightly and looked to make their mark early as Alister Smith went for goal from outside the box, his effort flew over the bar in the end.
The early pressure from Wimbledon didn’t faze the Bees as Nicke Kabamba raced forward before winning a free kick just outside the box. The resulting free kick was shot at goal by Ben Coker, but it was well blocked by the wall.
Barnet grew into the game as time went on as after quarter of an hour a clever through ball from Billy Clifford allowed Idris Kanu to race forward with the ball into the box, but Owen Goodman pulled off a great save to deny him.
The Bees found themselves with a spot kick after 20 minutes when Kabamba was fouled inside the box, he then made no mistake in slotting the ball past Goodman.
The visitors looked for an instant response when a teasing cross from the right-hand side fell to Stevens at the back post and with the goal in front of him, he put his effort wide of the post.
Barnet came right back at the visitors again and won a second penalty kick after Kanu was bundled over just inside the box. Kabamba’s second penalty of the afternoon ended in the palms of Goodman who dived low to deny him.
Wimbledon refused to sit back as Matthew Stevens came forward against before rounding the ball past Nick Hayes, but Danny Collinge was there to put in a great block.
Half Time: 1-0
The first chance of the second half fell to Myles Hippolyte who took a shot on at goal from the edge of the box, but his effort went just over the bar.
On the 60th minute mark Kanu played in a teasing cross from the right-hand side looking for Kabamba in the box, but the Wimbledon defence was on hand to clear away.
Ten minutes later and the Bees nearly had the second goal of the afternoon when Kanu’s cross met Coker on the edge of the box who took his shot on the volley, but his effort was cleared off the line.
Shortly after and the second goal did arrive when a free kick swung in from the right-hand side met the head of Adebola Oluwo who planted his effort past Goodman.
With two minutes to go the visitors looked to claw a late goal back through Joe Piggot but his close-range effort was well saved by Hayes.
Full Time: 2-0
Starting XI: Hayes, Oluwo, Collinge, Kenlock, Kanu, Hartigan (C), Clifford, Coker, Brunt, Stead, Kabamba
Subs: Gillmore, Rye, Grimwood, Okimo, Kizzi, Matejko, Wilkinson
Goals: 21’ Kabamba, 78’ Oluwo.
