MATCH REPORT | DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

The Bees leave it late as super-sub Ndlovu helps give Barnet the win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the Vanarama National League.

Straight from kick off the tone was set, both the Bees and the Daggers aimed to take control early on, with the intent of dominating the game.

The ball didn’t stay in either half for long, as the sets of players from both teams pushed and fight to drive into their opponent’s box, looking to take the lead.

The Bees were able to create chances within the early stages of the first half, but were struggling to find the back of the net and convert the attack.

The first real chance of the game for the hosts came just after the 20^th minute, when Idris Kanu delivered the ball in from the right to find Ryan Glover.

Glover took a strike towards goal but Louis Jones in goal for the Daggers was able to catch the ball and stop it from going any further.

Lees then ten minutes later and Dom Telford found himself through on goal and one-on-one against the keeper.

Telford strikes the ball low looking for that bottom right corner, but he hits the shot just wide as the ball rolled past the post and out for a goal kick.

Minutes later and Antohny Hartigan created space for himself outside the box and decided to take his chance on goal, hitting it with power and strength.

However, his shot carried too much height as the ball flew over the crossbar, leaving the score goal less heading into the break.

Half Time: 0-0

The second half was underway, the visitors gained the possession in the opening seconds, but not for long as Ben Coker was able to guide the ball out for a Bees throw in, giving the ball back to Barnet.

The Bees first real chance of the second half came in the 50^th minute, when Zak Brunt chipped the ball into the box from the right and found Callum Stead, who connects well with a header, but the ball falls off target gliding over the bar.

As Barnet continued to push for that opening goal, as Dom Telford took a strike from a tight angle on the edge of the box, but it was blacked by the Daggers defence and fell into the keepers’ hands.

Dean Brennan decided it was time for some changes, bringing on Rhys Browne and Harry Chapman in the hope of changing the flow of the game.

Not even a minute after coming on and Harry Chapman found himself with space on the left, driving the ball forward and testing his luck on goal, but his effort fell to wide as it flew post the left post.

With the clock ticking on more changes were needed, with Lee Ndlovu going in for Dom Telford and Billy Clifford in for Ryan Glover.

The pair were really making themselves known in the game, as Billy Clifford ran back to stop the visitors from creating any chances around the box, and Lee Ndlovu was using his strength to push the ball back up field.

As the game was reaching the end of the 90, seven minutes were added to the game, meaning there was time for one last big push to turn this game around.

Over three thousand Bees fans were helping to carry the team, telling them to push on, break through and fight for that lead.

Then out of nowhere, Lee Ndlovu retrieves the ball in the box, after a quick back and forth following a Bees corner.

With one defender trying to push him off the ball, Ndlovu controls his balance and struck the ball low towards the near post, pushing it past the hand of Louis Jones in the goal.

And just like that with only a few minutes remaining, Barnet had broken the deadlock and achieved the advantage in the game, leaving only very little time to defend it and for Dagenham to revive themselves.

After some quick last-minute efforts from the Daggers, it was all over, the Bees claimed another three points and further extended their lead at the top of the table.

Full-Time: 1-0

Lineup: Evans, Coker (Browne 58’), Collinge, Telford (Ndlovu 70’), Stead, Kanu (Cropper 78’), Glover (Clifford 75’), Brunt (Chapman 58’), Hartigan, Tavares, Kenlock

Goals: Ndlovu (90+3’)

Attendance: 3655 (406 Away Supporters)