Barnet sealed a 4-1 win over Hemel Hempstead in an unofficial training friendly at The Hive on Tuesday evening.
Two wonderfully taken goals from Mark Byrne including a stunning free-kick provided the highlights with Marciano Mengerink also grabbing a brace.
Graham Stack, David Stephens and a host of other first-team players featured along with a number of youngsters who will all now switch their attentions to Saturday’s match against Ipswich Town.Â
The away side frustrated the Bees in the early stages but their were dealt a sucker punch after 12 minutes when Byrne despatched a sumptuous 35-yard free-kick into the top corner.
The midfielder continued to stand out and he showed great determination to seize possession and send Marciano through on goal but his shot was saved.Â
With 26 minutes on the clock the home side doubled their lead, Marciano broke at the Hemel defence before playing a neat through ball to Crawford whose shot was palmed back into the Dutchman’s path to finish from close range.
The away side responded well and saw one effort hit the post before Crawford’s header was cleared off the line and Marciano’s header was ruled out for offside.
The determined Crawford continued to test the Hemel defence but he was again denied, however, the deficit would soon be increased as Byrne grabbed his second.
Mauro Vilhete surged forward before cutting inside and playing the ball into midfielder who took one touch before firing the ball across goal and into the bottom corner.
A host of changes at the break saw Iffy Allen, Jamal Lowe, George Sykes and more enter the fray but the bees dominance continued.
With 63 minutes played they were celebrating once more when Marciano’s low shot ramped into the top corner via the goalkeeper’s leg.
Dominic Vose went close in the latter stages of the match with a curling free-kick but it was smiles all around at the final whistle as the Bees look ahead to a far more testing match on Saturday.Â
Barnet FC: Stack, Acheampong, Stephens, Johnson, Yiadom; Weston, Byrne, Gambin, Vilhete; Crawford, Marciano.