The Hive plays host to Accrington Stanley tomorrow for matchday 11 of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two campaign, with the Bees looking for back-to-back home victories following the 3-0 win over Grimsby Town last month.
Barnet:
The Bees were in Vertu Trophy action on home soil on Tuesday evening against Brighton u21S, in which Callum Stead’s first goal this season cancelled out an opener scored late on in the first-half by young Seagulls’ forward Joshua Robertson to see the tie draw level at 90 minutes.
The extra point went to the Bees, with Dennis Adeniran, Oli Hawkins, Stead, Ryan Glover and Ryan Galvin striking from the spot in a 5-4 penalty shootout win.
Bournemouth loanee Ben Winterburn started the tie, along with Ollie Kensdale who last featured in a Bees’ game in the first fixture of the competition away at Luton and Owen Evans featured in between the sticks.
There were also places on the bench for youngsters Jack Blower and Rohat Matyar.
Despite neither side creating many opportunities in the first-half, Shannon Ruth’s side dominated possession and took the lead late on through Robertson who struck from outside the area.
The Bees made a couple of changes at the break and were able to control most of the proceedings in the second 45, with Stead scoring a deserved equaliser, set-up by Winterburn.
Scott High, Emmanuel Osadebe and Winterburn all came close to finding the back of the net, with the latter striking from distance and stinging the crossbar.
Barnet’s last five results:
Barnet FC 1(5)-1(4) Brighton U21s
Oldham Athletic 1-1 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 3-0 Grimsby Town
Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 1-3 Shrewsbury Town
From the dugout:
Connor Smith’s pre-match interview can be viewed HERE!
Accrington Stanley:
The Owd Reds sit 19th in the table after ten games, with two wins, three draws and four losses to their name, with the two wins coming in their last three league outings.
Their most recent outing on the road saw goals from Isaac Sinclair and Charlie Caton give them three points against MK Dons, with last Saturday’s game seeing Walsall make the visit to the Wham Stadium and take home the three points in a 3-1 victory over the hosts, who saw their unbeaten run at home ended.
Both sides played out a goalless first half, with Everton loanee Isaac Heath proving a threat for the home side, but neither side could find the back of the net in the opening 45.
Aden Flint and former Stanley forward Aaron Pressley gave the visitors a two-goal cushion late on in the second-half and Caton closed the deficit in added time, before Walsall got a third a couple of minutes late through Albert Adomah to secure the win.
Accrington Stanley’s last five results:
Accrington Stanley 1-3 Walsall
MK Dons 1-2 Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley 1-0 Colchester
Cheltenham Town 1-0 Accrington Stanley
Fleetwood 2(5)-2(4) Accrington Stanley (Vertu Trophy)
In the opposition dugout:
Stanley are managed by John Doolan, who took the job on a permanent basis after an interim period in March 2024.
The 56-year-old’s first involvement with the Lancashire club came in 2017 as a First Team coach, after previously playing for the club, and he helped them to become League Two champions in his first season back.
Prior to his involvement with the coaching team at Stanley, Doolan held roles in Liverpool’s and Everton’s academies, as well as a period of time at Wigan when they were in the Premier League.
One to watch:
One player who’s impressed since joining the Owd Reds on loan in September, is 20-year-old Isaac Heath from Everton’s academy.
A goal in three minutes, an assist and converting a spot-kick played a part in an outstanding debut for the youngster in the Vertu Trophy last month, with his fierce competitiveness being a great attribute for the fourth tier of English football.
The Leeds-born forward was awarded the Toffees’ U21s Player of the Season award, with many thinking David Moyes would involve the starlet in the First Team during the 2025/26 campaign.
Last time the two sides faced:
The last time the two sides met was in the FA Cup second round in 2022, and despite it looking like Barnet could force a replay away from home for most of the game, a late Ethan Hamilton strike sent Stanley into the next round.
In the league, Billy Kee’s second-half penalty earned Accrington Stanley a point at the Hive, after Alex Nicholls struck in the 18th minute to give Barnet the lead.
COYB