Dean Brennan’s side extended their unbeaten run in the National League to nine games on Tuesday evening against Eastleigh. Goals from Ryan De Havilland and Ben Wynter sealed a 2-0 win and all three points at The Silverlake Stadium.
Brennan named one change to his starting XI that beat Chesterfield on Saturday. Marvin Armstrong came in for Sam Woods.
It wasn’t an ideal start to the game for The Bees as Dominic Revan was forced off with an injury within the opening ten minutes of play. Sam Beard came on as his replacement.
The first big chance for Barnet to score came after 17 minutes. The ball was crossed into the Eastleigh penalty area where the keeper, McDonnell attempted to come out and claim it. The ball floated over him and fell to the feet of Idris Kanu. Kanu played the ball across the face of goal but Marvin Armstrong couldn’t get enough on the ball to guide it into the back of the net.
Eastleigh came close in the 41st minute when Hesketh was found with plenty of space in The Bees box. Hesketh with just the keeper to beat dragged his effort wide from close range.
Eastleigh came close again from a free-kick. Corey Panter’s strike went over the wall and looked destined to find the top corner of the net before Laurie Walker managed to get across goal and get a hand to the ball.
Minutes later The Bees opened the scoring through Ryan De Havilland. Marvin Armstrong broke away from his man and darted into The Spitfires box. He then played the ball across the box and found Ryan De Havilland who tapped in the opener right before the half-time whistle.
HALF TIME: Eastleigh 0-1 Barnet
The hosts started the second half the strongest. The Spitfires came close a few times to levelling the score but nothing that really tested Walker in The Bees goal.
Pritchard almost doubled the lead in the 53rd minute with a headed effort with looped over the keeper but couldn’t find its way under the bar and into the net.
The Bees did double their lead with 25 minutes left on the clock. Corner is whipped into the box and Ben Wynter is there at the back post to make it 2-0 in front of the travelling faithful.
Armstrong almost made it 3-0. His pointblank header was excellently saved by McDonnell.
The Bees held on and made it 9 National League games unbeaten. Our next match is on Friday 3rd February at Scunthorpe United.
Barnet Starting XI: Walker, Collinge, Armstrong (Woods 84’), Okimo, Gorman, Kabamba, Kanu, Pritchard, Wynter, Revan (Beard 10’), De Havilland (Moyo 56’)
Unused Substitutes: Azaze and Hall
Attendance: 2051 (106 away)
