Joe Kizzi was the New Year’s Day hero for the Bees as his double saw the Bees beat Crawley Town on home soil, giving the Bees their first back-to-back victories since early October.
Dean Brennan named an unchanged XI and bench following Monday night’s victory at Bristol Rovers, while Crawley Town had two early January transfer window editions making their debuts for the Reds at the Hive, searching for their first three points since early November.
The Bees were awarded four corners inside the first five minutes, showing the visitors early doors that they meant business and that was proven when Joe Kizzi latched onto the end of one of Mark Shelton’s deliveries and headed home Barnet’s first goal of 2026 to give us an early advantage.
It was almost two a few minutes later when Idris Kanu worked the ball into the area. He got his shot away and it looked to be sneaking into the far-left corner, but the ball ricocheted off the post and Crawley keeper Harvey Davies managed to scoop it away, before Shelton’s rebound was into his hands.
The Bees should’ve been awarded a penalty on ten minutes and given the opportunity to double our lead early on, but referee Ross Martin wasn’t interested and play continued.
The pressure continued to be piled on by the amber and black army and a fast-counter attack saw Kanu lay the ball off to Glover, who charged into the area, but before he could get his shot away, Charlie Barker managed to make a last-ditch tackle.
Another chance fell for our number 15 when the ball fell to him in the box unmarked, but Davies matched his shot and parried it away for a corner.
The visitors started to settle in the game as the half progressed, with Josh Flint striking the woodwork just before the 20-minute mark.
Another huge chance followed for Barnet. Kanu charged down the left and played the ball into Lee Ndlovu. The number nine sent the ball goalwards, but the ball was through the legs of Davies and the momentum was enough to stop the ball from finding the back of the net.
Crawley forward Harry McKirdy took aim from outside the box, but the shot was just wide of Cieran Slicker’s net.
The Reds equalised in what could only be described as a moment of cleverness from Mckirdy, who positioned himself behind Slicker when he rolled the ball out to a defender, only to sneak round, collect the ball and finish into an empty net.
Slicker was forced to push away an effort from Taylor Richards as the visitors continued to grow into the game, as half-time loomed, but that was the last of the action for the first 45 and it was level heading into the break.
Half-time: Barnet FC 1-1 Crawley Town
The Bees created some opportunities shortly after the restart, with Adam Senior with a shot comfortable for Davies and Ben Winterburn threaded a lovely ball through to Glover in the final third, but our number 15 had strayed offside before the ball was released.
A Glover long throw met the head of Danny Collinge who tried to direct the opportunity goalward, but it instead bounced off a head of a Crawley Town defender and out for a Bees’ corner.
A triple attacking change was made just after the hour mark. Ndlovu, Ofoborh and Kanu were replaced by Oli Hawkins, Britt Assombalonga and Dennis Adeniran for the final half an hour.
Both sides continued to search for the next goal in the game, and it was Slicker who came up trumps for his side with a stunning save to keep the tie level. Louie Watson took aim and our number 29 stretched high to tip the ball out for a corner, before making another fantastic stop from close-range to deny the Reds again.
A couple of chances fell for Assombalonga who couldn’t head the ball on target following a Shelton free-kick that was kept alive by Danny Collinge and Oli Hawkins almost directed a header goalwards, but it was onto the roof of the net from a brilliant delivery from Glover.
It was Kizzi who struck again for what proved to be the match-winner on the 76th minute. This time it was Glover’s ball into a chaotic box, but the final touch came off our number 30 for his and our second of the afternoon.
Joe Hugill replaced Glover for the final few minutes of the afternoon.
Into added time and Collinge ran through the middle with the ball, before playing the ball into Assombalonga, but the forward’s touch sent the ball soaring over the bar and the referee’s whistle was blown minutes later, signalling three points for the Bees.
Full-time: Barnet FC 2-1 Crawley Town
Line-up: Senior, Collinge, Senior, Ndlovu (Hawkins, 63’), Kanu (Adeniran, 63’), Glover (Hugill, 90’) , Winterburn, Shelton, Tavares, Ofoborh (Assombalonga, 63’), Kizzi
Goals: Kizzi (5’, 76’)
Attendance: 2,566 with 414 visitors