Match Report: Bees 1-3 MK Dons
The Bees suffered defeat in a pre-season friendly against a very well-drilled MK Dons at The Hive.
Dean Brennan named a strong eleven with a mixture of youth and experience for the game against the Buckinghamshire-based team.
The game started with both teams fighting for possession. The opening 10 minutes saw a lot of back and forth with neither side making much progress.
In the ninth minute, MK Dons came close with the first clear-cut chance of the game. A strong attack down the right wing saw a low shot hit with venom. Laurie Walker made a brilliant save with his left foot. The first great save of many…
Barnet’s first chance came as a result of a free kick. Rob Hall was body checked and he took the resulting free kick. Hall’s shot went wide without concerning the keeper.
In the seventieth minute, Laurie Walker makes another key intervention. Three back-to-back-to-back saves prevented MK Dons from taking the lead. From the resulting corner, the ball is headed goal bound before Walker saves again at his front post.
A vocal Dean Brennan on the side-line ensured that his defenders were well organised. This proved vital in the twenty-fifth minute when MK Dons went through on goal as a result of a through ball, but the Barnet line played the striker offside.
Shortly after, Moussa Diarra made a goal-saving tackle as MK Dons played a fine ball over the top resulting in a corner. The corner went close with a shot from the penalty spot, but it was blasted over.
Barnet went close in the thirty-third minute after a sublime bit of individual play from Mason-Clark who wriggled away from his defender. While the shot went over, it was a brilliant bit of play from the winger.
MK Dons took the lead in the thirty-sixth minute after sustained pressure. A weak cross from the right was headed in by Will Grigg. The visitors took the lead.
The closest opportunity that came for the Bees came just 8 minutes later. Ryan De Havilland controlled a strong pass, took it down to his feet and his shot missed the left stick narrowly. It remained 0-1 up until Half Time.
The second half saw some excellent defending by Ben Wynter. MK Dons played a precise low ball. Our number 21 stayed close to the attacker and prevented a pass from being made in a threatening position.
MK Dons again came close in the fifty-third minute. They surged down the left side and played a low ball across the box. It looked like it was going to be tapped in from the penalty spot until Sam Beard stepped in and cleared the ball. Some would say that he was in the right place at the right time!
A few minutes late Walker again made an unbelievable save. An incredible, instinctive save high up to the left kept the score only 0-1. This was only topped by a save made by Walker in the sixty-ninth minute where MK Dons cut in from the right and he made a double save.
MK Dons scored from the resulting corner as Bradley Johnson wriggled away from his man and nodded in at the near post.
After Diarra and Gorman were replaced by Phillips and Okimo, Sam Beard dealt with a good ball in from the left by MK Dons. After a scramble in the middle and sitting on the ball, it is finally cleared, and the Bees survive another MK Dons attack.
Barnet finally broke the MK Dons defence in the seventy-seventh minute. The ball came in from the right and is met by De Havilland. His looping shot is almost saved by the MK Dons keeper but has enough power to nestle in the bottom left-hand corner. 1-2 with thirteen minutes remaining.
The Barnet hope for a late equaliser is dashed shortly after as MK Dons play a long ball over the top which cuts out the Barnet defence. This leaves a 1 on 1 which is comfortably finished, leaving the visitors to win 3-1.
Bees: Laurie Walker, Ben Wynter (Thomas 85’), Danny Collinge (Trialist A), Moussa Diarra (Phillips 71’), Sam Beard, Dale Gorman (Okimo 71’), Ryan De Havilland (Trialist A 84’), Harry Pritchard (Smith 75’), Ephron Mason-Clark (Shaun Shields 75’), Nicke Kabamba (Granville 85’), Rob Hall (Jamar Loza 62’).
Attendance: 1096.
