MATCH REPORT | HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN 1-3 BARNET FC | PRE-SEASON

Nicke Kabamba’s first half hat-trick saw The Bees beat National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town.

Callum Stead had the first chance of the game when his effort from a tight angle in the Hemel box was saved by Wood the Hemel keeper.

The hosts would go down the other end and had their first chance of the match when a strike from the edge of the box forced Hayes into making a diving save.

The Bees opened the score after 15 minutes when Ben Coker’s cross found the head of Nicke Kabamba who flicked the ball beyond the Hemel keeper and into the back of the net.

Rhys Browne then came close to adding a second goal when his curling strike from outside the Hemel box found the side netting.

Nicke Kabamba got his second goal of the game after a ball from Callum Stead found Kabamba in the Hemel box before he struck the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Minutes later, Kabamba would have his hat-trick. Callum Stead again with an excellent run into the Hemel box before passing the ball across the face of goal for Kabamba to tap in his third of the game.

The home side did manage to find the back of the net before the break through Williams.

HT: Hemel Hempstead Town 1-3 Barnet FC

Dean Brennan would make 11 changes for the second-half with the likes of Finley Wilkinson, Zak Brunt, Idris Kanu and Jerome Okimo coming on.

The home side had the first chance of the second-half as they went one-on-one with Jordan Gillmore, but it was The Bees keeper who came out on top and made an excellent diving save.

Finley Wilkinson had Barnet’s first chance of the half when the ball fell to the attacking midfielder on the edge of the Hemel box, but his effort couldn’t find the target. Wilkinson came close again when he had an effort excellently save from close range by the Hemel keeper.

The Bees would see out the game which sees Dean Brennan’s side keep their 100% record in pre-season.

FT: Hemel Hempstead Town 1-3 Barnet FC

Barnet FC First-Half XI: Hayes, Tavares, Oluwo, Kenlock, Hall-Johnson, Clifford, Shelton, Coker, Stead, Browne, Kabamba.

Barnet FC Second-Half XI: Gillmore, Grimwood, Kizzi, Okimo, Cropper, Rye, Kanu, Francis, Brunt, Matejko, Wilkinson

Goals: Kabamba 15′, 25′, 37′,

Attendance: 485