The Bees came from behind to beat Dagenham 2-1 at The Hive on Tuesday night.
Dean Brennan named three changes to the team that lost against Altrincham on Saturday. Callum Stead and Jordan Maguire-Drew came in for Zak Brunt and Idris Kanu to freshen up the attacking line. Birthday boy Connor Stevens started ahead of Adebola Oluwo.
Jordan Maguire-Drew had an early chance for The Bees as he went one-on-one with Elliot Justham. The winger’s effort couldn’t test The Daggers keeper as his strike went straight into his gloves.
The Daggers took an early lead after 26 minutes. Corner came into the Barnet box and wasn’t dealt with as Josh Rees opened the scoring.
Callum Stead came close to an equaliser. The forward made an excellent run to the edge of the Dagenham box before his strike at goal was blocked.
Dagenham were left stunned that they did not make it 2-0. A flurry of chances were blocked before the ball came off the woodwork before the Barnet defence managed to clear the danger and keep the score 1-0.
Straight down the other end The Bees were awarded a free-kick. Jordan Maguire-Drew found Callum Stead free at the back post. The forward could not keep his attempt on target as the ball went wide of goal.
In the final minute of the first half The Bees found an equaliser. The ball found the head of Nicke Kabamba who nodded the ball over the line.
HT: Barnet FC 1-1 Dagenham
The Bees made one change at the break with Zak Brunt coming on for Harry Pritchard.
The Daggers came close to retaking the lead early in the second half. A curling effort from the edge of the box looked destined for the far top corner of the net but fortunately went wide.
The away side came close again when a strike hit the woodwork but Josh Keeley was there to collect the ball before any Dagenham players could convert the rebound.
Reece Hall-Johnson would be the next player to come close to giving his side the lead in what was an end-to-end fixture. The right-backs powerful strike wasn’t able to find the target.
On the hour mark The Bees took the lead. An excellent strike from Zak Brunt found it’s way through a crowd of Dagenham players and into the bottom corner of the goal.
Jordan Maguire-Drew almost doubled The Bees lead instantly but had his chance cleared off the line.
Connor Stevens then made way for Jordan Cropper with 15 minutes left of play. Nicke Kabamba would test the Dagenham keeper but his strike was well saved.
Dagenham were denied an equaliser in stoppage time thanks to the heroics of Josh Keeley who made a fantastic save the keep The Bees ahead.
FT: Barnet FC 2-1 Dagenham
Starting XI: Keeley, Hall-Johnson, Coker, Okimo, Kabamba, Stead (Kanu 89’), Pritchard (Brunt 45’), Maguire-Drew, Hartigan, Stevens (Cropper 75’), Potter
Unused Subs: Walker, Wynter
Goals: Kabamba 45+1’, Brunt 59’
Yellow Cards: Potter, Hartigan
Attendance: 1,156 (Away: 127)
