MATCH REPORT | BARNET FC 3-1 SALFORD CITY

The Bees opened the 2026/27 campaign with an impressive victory over Salford City at The Hive.

Goals from Oisin Gallagher, Charlie Lakin and Kabongo Tshimanga got Dean Brennan’s side off to a winning start on home soil.

One change was made to the side that fell to defeat at Cambridge in the Carabao Cup last week, with Kane Smith in from the start and Myles Kenlock taking his place on the bench.

Barnet had the ball in the back of the net just five minutes after kick-off. Kabongo Tshimanga worked the ball well before finding Tom Knowles to finish off the move, but the decision was made to rule the goal for offside.

Oisin Gallagher came close to opening his account for the Bees with ten minutes on the clock when he was one-on-one with the Ammies’ Will Norris, but the Salford shot-stopper was equal to the Irishman’s effort and Idris Kanu’s follow up was comfortable for the hands of Norris.

The Bees continued to press the visitors’ backline. A Knowles long throw made its way to Nnamdi Ofoborh on the edge of the area and our number ten took a touch before sending an effort just inches over the bar.

Midway through the first-half, Gallagher got himself on the scoresheet, netting the club’s first goal of the season. Initially winning the ball back in the final third, the midfielder found Kabongo Tshimanga, who fed the it back and our number 22 fired into the roof of the net from close-range to give us the advantage.

As half-time loomed, Danny Collinge came close, stretching to the ball in the box and forcing Norris to tip it over the bar with his fingertips.

Our lead was doubled minutes before the break, with Charlie Lakin opening his competitive account for the Bees. Following a defensive error in the Salford backline, our number eight was able to pick up the ball and calmly slot it over the line, sending Dean Brennan’s side in at half-time with a two-goal advantage.

Half-time: Barnet FC 2-0 Salford City

The first chance of the second-half for Barnet came from a corner, with the ball finding Knowles at the back post in plenty of space, but the winger couldn’t keep the ball down when sending his effort towards goal.

We came close again minutes later following a Kane Smith free-kick. The set piece was whipped in from out on the right-hand side and was headed back across goal by Kanu, but Knowles couldn’t poke the ball home with the final touch.

Salford sparked into life as the half progressed, with Tom Knowles denying former Bee Ade Oluwo from inside the area, clearing the ball off the line and chipping in defensively as the Bees weathered a slight Salford storm.

The visitors looked to be through on goal with just over 20 minutes to go, Macauley Langstaff rounding Matthew Cox, but the Salford number nine’s effort couldn’t find the back of the empty net.

The first change of the afternoon saw Myles Kenlock replace Knowles on 68 minutes, with our number 30 getting in on the action and having an effort blocked from close-range.

The visitors continued to search for a goal, with Ben Woodburn sending an effort towards Cox, but the ball soared over the bar.

Brandon Comley was introduced for his first competitive minutes in a black and amber shirt, with Kanu making way for the former Walsall midfielder and Will Wright entered the action five minutes later in place of this afternoon’s first goalscorer, Gallagher.

Goal number three was set up by Nnamdi Ofoborh, who played the ball into the path of none other than Tshimanga, who netted his second in two games and increased our lead late on.

Salford denied the Bees a cleansheet when the clock struck 90, with Oluwo heading home against his former side.

Kane Smith had to exit the action in added time, leaving the pitch in some discomfort and the Bees to play the final moments of the tie with ten men, but the home side held out for the win and three points on the Sky Bet League Two table.

Full-time: Barnet FC 3-1 Salford City

Goals: Gallagher (24’), Lakin (42’), Tshimanga (87’)

Line-up: Cox, Collinge, Senior, Knowles (Kenlock, 68’), Lakin, Ofoborh, Kanu (Comley, 78’), Smith, Tshimanga, Gallagher (Wright, 83’), Tavares

Attendance: 2,230 (255 visitors from Salford)