The Bees started quickly and could have been ahead inside three minutes as JJ Hooper met Wes Fonguck’s corner and headed against the crossbar. 

It was Hooper involved again just a minute later after he broke into the area and saw his effort saved by the Braintree goalkeeper. 

Beadle’s side could have been three ahead within six minutes with the chances they created, as Ephron Mason-Clark stood up a good cross for Hooper who headed inches wide on the stretch at the back post. 

The Bees looked to get the ball to the front three of Walker, Hooper and Mason-Clark all afternoon, the pace and trickery of the trio caused the visitor’s issues in the opening stages.  

The early pressure told after 18 minutes as Walker opened the scoring following a good drive forward from Fonguck, the midfielder picked a delightful pass through and last season’s second-highest scorer made no mistake with the finish. 

In a first half played in warm temperatures, Scott Loach in the Bees goal was rarely threatened in the opening 30 minutes of the game. As the half-hour mark approached, Trialist B put in a low cross that Fonguck smashed goalwards only for a deflection to take it behind for a corner. 

Nine minutes before the break we extended our advantage as Hooper made it two goals in as many matches as he excellently curled into the corner from the edge of the box. It was Fonguck with the assist again as he did well to find a composed pass for Hooper who did the rest at ease. 

As half time approached Loach made his first save of the afternoon, following a powerful strike from the edge of the box from a Braintree midfielder. 

The Bees went up the other end straight away as Mason-Clark broke forward before shooting goalwards, but his low strike was well saved by the goalkeeper. 

Beadle made just the one change at the break, allowing for some of his players to get extended minutes under their belts with the new season just two weeks away. 

Five minutes into the second half the visitors had a chance to half the deficit as they were awarded a penalty, the Braintree striker stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. 

The Bees almost restored their two-goal advantage immediately after conceding, as Tyrone Duffus struck the post with a powerful header after a good ball in on the right-hand side. 

Just moments after, it was three for Beadle’s side as Mason-Clark did brilliantly to skip through several challenges before having the composure to find the bottom corner. It was a top-class individual goal, with the wingers avoiding five challenges before finding the back of the net, to make it two goals in two games. 

It didn’t take Mason-Clark long to make it three in two games, as he stepped up from the spot and converted a penalty to make it 4-1 to the Bees. The winger has been in scintillating pre-season form which comes as a huge boost ahead of the new season. 

The boss then continued to rotate the squad in the last quarter of the game, as he ensured everyone gained some minutes, as well as taking a look at some of the other trialists at the Club. 

Trialist H almost added a fifth for the Bees with 15 minutes left on the clock, as his strike was parried by the ‘keeper and struck the bar before going behind for a corner. 

This was yet another positive step on the road to the new season, with the Bees looking sharp and positive in their play all afternoon. 

Barnet: Loach (Azaze 78′), Nugent (Trialist E 60′), Dunne (Richards 66′), Trialist B (Trialist F 45′), Hooper (Pavey 72′), Taylor (Tompkins 66′), Fonguck (Vasiliou 66′), Duffus, Trialist A (Trialist C 60′), Walker (Trialist H 72′), Mason-Clark (Trialist G 72′). 

 

STARTING TEAM

Reaction: 

Assistant Coach Steve Jenkins was on hand to give us his thoughts following this afternoon’s victory. 

THE GOALS: