Neither the Bees or the U’s could find the back of the net in a goalless draw at the Cledara Abbey Stadium this afternoon.
Dean Brennan named an unchanged XI following the Bees’ 2-2 draw at the Hive at MK Dons.
It was a quiet opening five minutes at the in Cambridgeshire, with the majority of the action happening in the middle of the park and neither side getting the ball into the opposition’s box.
Nik Tavares did well to stand his ground and deal with Kylian Kouassi who was attempting to progress the ball into the Barnet box in the opening stages.
The first shot on target for the Bees saw Adam Senior drill a low shot goalward, but it was easily dealt with by U’s shot-stopper Jake Eastwood.
The hosts then looped a high ball into the area and this time it was the Bees’ keeper who was tested, but Cieran Slicker rose to gather.
Another shot on target for the Bees and this time it was Idris Kanu, but similar to Senior, his effort had little power on it and didn’t trouble Eastwood, who collected comfortably.
Tavares made another important interception to deny Kouassi the opportunity to turn with the ball and head towards the final third midway through the first 45.
Cambridge came closes when James Brophy curled an effort goalward and it wasn’t too far wide as the tie remained goalless.
Kanu struck again on 38 minutes and this time, his effort forced Eastwood to push it out for a Barnet corner.
A string of corners taken by Ben Winterburn followed as the momentum swung in the our favour, but no purple and white shirt could find the back of the net, with Glover heading over and Senior not able to tap in from close-range.
With minutes to go in the first-half, Glover threaded the ball through to Collinge who found himself with only Eastwood to beat, but he struck the ball into the U’s number one who denied our captain.
Lee Ndlovu then had plenty of time with the ball in the box, but he miss kicked his shot and that was the final action of the half, with neither side finding a breakthrough.
Half-time: Cambridge United 0-0 Barnet FC
Senior struck shortly after the restart from outside the area, forcing Eastwood to parry it away for a corner.
With the Bees still on top, referee Simon Mather awarded a free-kick when Ndlovu went to ground.
Barnet took the set-piece quickly, but Ndlovu frustratingly sent his effort into the side netting.
Huge penalty shouts rang around the Stadium for Cambridge United on the hour mark for the first for a shove in the area, but referee Simon Mather waved them away.
Slicker was bought into the action after having a quiet first-half, saving a powerful effort from Adam Mayor out on the left-hand side.
Shortly after, the ball was in the Barnet area again and our number 29 smothered the ball to deny the hosts the opportunity to take the lead.
Our first change came on 67 minutes, with Ben Winterburn being replaced by Kane Smith.
With 15 minutes to go, the Bees’ endured a nervy moment in the Cambridge United box, but the visitors eventually cleared the danger.
Dean Brennan made a double change with ten minutes to go.
Oli Hawkins came on for Ndlovu up front, with Emmanuel Osadebe replacing Glover in the midfield.
The momentum swung in the hosts’ favour as the clock ticked towards the 90, with five minutes added at the end of the second-half, but the game ended goalless.
Full-time: Cambridge United 0-0 Barnet FC
Line-up: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Ndlovu (Hawkins, 79’), Stead, Kanu, Glover (Osadebe, 79’), Winterburn (Smith, 67’), Shelton, Tavares, Ofoborh