MATCH PREVIEW | BOSTON UNITED

The Bees will visit the Jakemans Community Stadium this Saturday (3pm), as they take on Boston United in the Vanarama National League.

Barnet:

Last Saturday the Bees hit the road, traveling to the Lambs Ground where they faced Tamworth in the Vanarama National League, claiming a hard fought 3 points thanks to a fabulous volley from Callum Stead, following an unreal save by Owen Evans at the other end.

Dean Brennan was sticking with the same line-up that faced Hartlepool at The Hive Stadium, looking for his side to create as many opportunities as possible within the game.

Within the opening minutes of the game the fans were already in for a treat, as both teams were fighting for possession over the ball, each creating some early chances in the game.

Bees’ goalkeeper Owen Evans was kept on his toes in the first 10 minutes of the game, reaching high to push over a high lobbed attempt from Tamworth winger Beck-Ray Enoru.

Beck-Ray Enoru continued to cause trouble for the Bees, sprinting against Idris Kanu down the left side of the field, crossing and cutting the ball towards the inside of the box but couldn’t find an opener for the hosts.

Half time was under 10 minutes away, when Owen Evans came to the Bees rescue once again, stretching out to producing an unbelievable save which knocks Barnet forward and on to a strong counterattack.

The ball was pushed on to Zak Brunt, who floated the ball into the box to find Callum Stead, connecting with it perfectly on his right foot, volleying it into the net, giving the Bees a 1-0 lead heading into the break.

As the second half was underway, Zak Brunt had an early chance straight from kick off, finding space in the box with the ball, striking the ball on goal but it glides past the left side of the post.

Tamworth was continuing to fight on, charging at the Barnet defence looking for an opening to bring the hosts back level.

Owen Evans was having a brilliant game between the sticks, pulling off another incredible save from a Tamworth free kick, stretching to the top left corner to make the stop, keeping the Bees in the lead.

Within the final 10 minutes of the game, Tamworth’s Jordan Cullinane-Liburd picked up his second yellow card in the game for delaying a restart, resulting in a red card and dropping the hosts down to 10 men.

After holding onto the lead in the final minutes of the game, the Bees secured a hard earned 3 points and extended the place at the top of the table by 6 points.

Barnet last five results:

Tamworth 0-1 Barnet FC

Barnet FC 2-0 Hartlepool United

Barnet FC 3-0 Maidenhead United

Southend United 0-3 Barnet FC

Forest Green Rovers 0-0 Barnet FC

 From the dugout:

Connor Smith preview can be viewed HERE!

Boston United:

The Pilgrims faced Spennymoor Town in the FA Trophy away from home last Saturday, as the score stayed level at 2-2 after 90 minutes, resulting in a penalty shootout to which Boston fell short, losing the shootout 3-1 and exiting the cup.

In the opening half of the game, both teams struggled to break the deadlock.

The hosts had the best chances in the first 45 minutes, but any strike onto goal was denied by Pilgrim’s keeper Cameron Gregory, keeping the visitors still within a chance heading into the break.

Boston returned to the field with a much stronger performance in the opening 10 minutes, as Pilgrim forward Jacob Hazel put the team up by one, striking the ball into the net following a rebound which was headed onto the crossbar by Jai Rowe.

Just four minutes later Boston full-back Jai Rowe headed the ball towards goal again from a corner kick, this time aiming the ball on target, increasing the visitors lead and putting them in control of the game.

However, the lead didn’t last long, as only two minutes later the hosts pulled one back, when Glen Taylor struck the ball from within the box, giving his side a lifeline in the game.

Spennymoor were working hard to bring the game back level, and Rob Ramshaw came to the rescue, placing the ball into the net following a strong counterattack towards the goal.

With the score now level, the referee blew for full-time, and game was sent to penalties.

Spennymoor goalkeeper Brad James was on form during the shootout, saving three of the four penalties against the Pilgrims, with Tony Weston being the only one to score his penalty for the visitors.

Having missed most their chances, the Pilgrims lost 3-1 on penalties and exited the FA Trophy.

Boston United last five results:

Spennymoor Town 2 (3) – 2 (1) Boston United

Boston United 3 – 1 York City

Tamworth 3 – 0 Boston United

Boston United 2 – 2 Ebbsfleet United

Gateshead 1 – 3 Boston United

From the opposition dugout:

Former EFL defender and EFL manager Graham Coughlan takes charge of the Pilgrims for this Saturdays fixture, with Lee Bullen as his assistant.

Coughlan was appointed manager on the 19^th of November 2024, previously spending two and a half years with EFL League 2 side Newport County.

His most noticeably achievement was leading the club to the fourth round of the FA Cup, exiting the competition with a 4-2 home defeat to Premier League side Manchester United.

Ones to watch:

Boston United centre forward Jacob Hazel is the clubs current top goal scorer in the league this season, getting 7 goals and 3 assists in 26 appearances.

So far, he has averaged a goal every 243 minutes for the Pilgrims this season.

Last time these two sides met:

Both teams last faced each other back at The Hive Stadium on the 5^th of October 2024, where the Bees came back from behind to beat the Pilgrims 3-1 at full-time.

Barnet were quick to start the game off, when the first chance of the game came in the opening minutes as Callum Stead was played through on goal, launching it at the keeper and making it a comfortable save for Aidan Stone between the sticks.

The early chances didn’t stop there, as Jacob Hazel played through Keaton Ward who was one on one with Nick Hayes.

Ward slotted the ball past the right hand of the keeper, giving the visitors an away lead at The Hive in the 6^th minute.

The Bees were working hard in the first half to find that equaliser, with Nicke Kabamba connecting with some crosses into the box, but was failing to get it on target or past the Boston goalkeeper.

10 minutes into the second half Barnet found their equaliser, when Ben Coker crossed the ball from the left side of the box into the path of Callum Stead, who headed the ball home, making the scores level at 1-1.

In the 70^th minute the Bees turned the game around by taking the lead against the visitors, when the ball was launched upwards following a low cross by Idris Kanu and Nik Tavares reacted quickly to connect with the ball, heading it past Aidan Stone, making the score 2-1 to the Bees.

As the game was entering its final minutes of the 90, full back Jordan Cooper won the battle for the ball and played a low driven cross to Nicke Kabamba, who back healed it past the goalkeeper, making the score 3-1 and sealing 3 points for the Bees.

Dean Brennan’s side will be wanting to keep their great run of form going, adding to their unbeaten league run, making it six clean sheets in a row and continuing to extend their lead at the top of the table.