The Bees got off to a lightning start against the Fleet and were ahead inside five minutes, as Mason-Clark skipped through the defence before firing into the bottom corner. The winger took in a pass from James Dunne who did well to find him, before Mason-Clark made no mistake when taking on his men or finding the back of the net.
The National League South side responded to going a goal behind well and broke with pace, however new Centre Back Ben Nugent was there to make a vital interception from a dangerous cutback.
In the scorching heat, it took a little while for both sides to get a real foothold in the game, but the early signs were promising for Peter Beadle’s side in only their second pre-season fixture.
Mason-Clark was at it again midway through the first half as he did well to control an excellent cross-field pass from Dunne before skipping inside and shooting over the bar.
Antonis Vasiliou was once again a bright spark in the opening 45 minutes for the Bees and his trickery won his side a free-kick in a dangerous position. The Cyprtiot’s superb delivery found the returning Harry Taylor at the back post, but his header floated just wide.
Alfie Pavey was next to have an opportunity at goal as he met Eliot Richards’ corner, but whilst under pressure from two Fleet defenders, our striker saw his effort go over the crossbar.
Against the run of play, with five minutes to go before the break the Fleet equalised as a good long-range effort flew into the corner, leaving Scott Loach with no chance. It was cruel on Beadle’s side who had just had their best spell of the first half.
The boss made seven further changes at the break and Josh Walker almost made an instant impact as he rounded off an impressive corner routine, only for his powerful strike to be well blocked by the defence.
Hooper got his first minutes in a Barnet shirt in the second half and looked a threat when linking up with strike partner Walker. Hooper thought he had got off to an ideal start as he tapped in following a save from a Walker free-kick, but the linesman flagged for offside.
But on the hour mark, Hooper wasn’t to be denied again, as Walker did incredibly to shrug off his man and get down to the byline, before squaring for Hooper who made no mistake from six yards out.
The Bees continued to run proceedings but were undone by a corner routine as the Fleet equalised, as a glancing header found it’s way into the bottom corner. There were several bodies inside the six-yard area, impeeding Loach from being able to come to deal with the dangerous delivery.
Taylor stepped up his pre-season minutes by returning to the field in place of Ben Nugent with 14 minutes left on the clock.
Hooper and Walker continued to cause problems, as they combined inside the area as Walker prodded goalwards but was denied by the feet of the Fleet goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, up the other end, Tyrone Duffus made an exceptional block to stop a goalbound effort following a quick breakaway from the National League South side.
The Bees had a late appeal for a penalty turned down as Trialist E was brought down in the box, but the referee deemed there wasn’t enough contact to award the penalty.
TEAM NEWS
Loach (Azaze 73′), Nugent (H Taylor 76′), Dunne (Fonguck 45′), Trialist B, Richards (Duffus 45′), Pavey (Walker 45′), Trialist C (Hernandez 64′), Taylor (Trialist D 45′), Trialist A (Tompkins 45′), Mason-Clark (Hooper 45′), Vasiliou (Trialist E 45′.)
BEADLE’S REACTION
